WTSA LINES INCREASE FUEL SURCHARGES

WTSA LINES INCREASE FUEL SURCHARGES    Container carriers of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement have announced planned increases in their fuel surcharges for shipments from the U.S. to Asia, effective July 1.
   The carrier group said that the increases are in response to significantly increased costs of purchasing and loading marine fuel.
   The 13 WTSA carriers have set third quarter surcharges, effective for the calendar quarter ending Sept. 30, at $140 per 40-foot, high-cube 40-foot and 45-foot container, $112 per 20-foot box and $7 per revenue ton by weight or measure.
   The higher fuel surcharge for westbound transpacific shipments will be introduced at the same time as increased bunker charges in the eastbound trade. The Transpacific Stabilization Agreement carrier group recently announced a three-fold increase in eastbound fuel surcharges from $50 to $140 per 40-foot container, with similar rises for other box sizes.
   WTSA members are APL, COSCO Container Lines, Evergreen Marine Corp., Hanjin Shipping, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, “K” Line, Maersk Sealand, MOL, NYK, Orient Overseas Container Line, P&O Nedlloyd and Yang Ming