TRENDS continue to diverge in container freight rates as the Drewry World Container Index maintains its downward spiral while those on Australia’s premier trade lane continue to rise.
The Shanghai-Sydney SCFI of spot rates increased again for this week (Week 31)’s shipments, up from USD 2,478/FEU to 2,534/FEU. This is the highest level since around Week 7.
While the frenzy of rate rises has subsided there have nevertheless been a number of notifications in the past week or so, with carriers reporting ships “fairly full”. Asia-Australia services continue to be affected by bad weather that’s causing vessel bunching and port congestion at both ends of routes.
Hapag-Lloyd has a Peak Season Surcharge coming into effect on 31 August for Asia and Oceania to the ports of Luanda, Lobito, Namibe, Cabinda, Soyo (Angola), Pointe Noire (Congo Brazzaville), Matadi, Boma (DR Congo), Libreville, Port Gentil (Gabon), Bata, Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Kribi, Douala (Cameroon) and Walvis Bay (Namibia). This PSS is USD 400/TEU for all container types and applicable until further notice.
Similarly a PSS of USD 200/TEU came into effect on 25 August, for shipments from Asia and Oceania* to the port of Nouakchott (Mauritania), Dakar (Senegal), Banjul (Gambia), Conakry (Guinea), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Monrovia (Liberia).
For your reference, the geographical scope of origin shipments for these PSSs is: Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna Island.
On 15 September ANL will implementing a rate restoration program for all shipment from South-East Asia, Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East to New Zealand. The quantum will be USD 300 for 20-foot dry and reefer boxes and USD 600 for 40-foot standard, high-cube and reefers.
On same date the line will apply the identical increases to shipments from South East Asia, Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East to Australia.
Also on 15 September MSC will implement a rate restoration effective for all cargo from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia to Australia and New Zealand. This too will be at USD 300/TEU.
On 1 October ANL has advised that due to the rising costs of operating shipping services, a General Rate Increase will take effect on the New Zealand and Australia to Pacific Islands and PNG trades: USD 200/TEU dry and reefer from NZ to Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa and Fiji, and Australia to Tonga, Samoa, and American Samoa. For NZ to New Caledonia the GRI will be USD 100/TEU dry and reefer. And USD 5 per revenue tonne for breakbulk.
On 1 October ANL/CMA CGM will implement a Commodity Misdeclaration Fee of USD 250 per BL in NZ. “We would like to remind customers that the HS code provided must accurately reflect the nature of the cargo shipped and must be consistent across all documentation including booking requests, SLI and Bill of Lading cargo description. Failure to declare consistent commodity code will result in application of the Commodity Misdeclaration Fee. Any additional costs incurred as a result of commodity misdeclaration will be to the account of shipper,” the carriers said.
In Australia on 1 October ANL/CMA CGM will initiate a Container Grade Selection fee to all 40’ foot dry containers of ANL & CMA-CGM exports shipments.
This fee, which is applicable to all export shipments, will be as follows:
Only applicable for container grade(s) - FQ / FS / FH / FX bookings.
40’ - Container Grade Selection Fee (CTR39): AUD 100.00 (per unit)
20’ - Container Grade Selection Fee (CTR39): AUD 200.00 (per unit) (Existing Charge)