Rate Increases

Transpacific Container Shipping Rate Soars

The Drewry Hong Kong-Los Angeles container rate benchmark, soared by 17.5% to US$2,452 per 40ft container this week. Last week’s Drewry transpacific price benchmark dated 1st August increased by just $71 per 40ft container from levels in the previous week, but it has now become clear that the rate increase was deferred by most carriers. “We said last week that one factor in the price changes was that carriers are staggering the implementation of this month’s GRI [General Rate Increase],” explained Martin Dixon, Drewry’s research manager for freight rate benchmarking. “What we now know is that the spot market has accepted the $500 rate increase over a period of 2 weeks, not one.” The latest $500 price increase ($429 this week and $71 last week) propelled spot freight rates from Hong Kong to Los Angeles to their highest level this year. This week’s $2,452 rate is 89% higher than this time last year. Perhaps more importantly, this was the 5th week-on-week rate increase of more than 10% this year. With transpacific capacity lower than a year ago and Asia-to-US volumes in July up by approximately 7%, the container market on the transpacific route appears to be much tighter than the Asia-Europe container trade. “The jump in rates and in volumes are there, but we have not changed our belief that freight rate levels will drift back downwards through the latter part of August,” Dixon warned

Mediterranean Shipping Co. Rate Increase

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) will file a General Rate Increase (GRI) of $160 per 20 ft container and $200 per 40 ft unit on all cargo moving from Europe to the USA. The company will also file a GRI of $200 per 20 ft unit and $250 per 40 ft unit applicable to freight moving from  Italy, Spain and Portugal (Western Mediterranean service)  to the USA, all coasts. These new rate increases go into effect April 1, 2009.

Atlantic Container Rates To Soar

Starting next year, the price to ship a container across the Atlantic ocean is to soar, as container shipping lines on the Atlantic will be seeking hefty rate increases s next year. Rates for 20 foot containers heading westbound to U.S. Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific ports would rise by $600 from January 1, 2000, carriers in the Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement (TACA) said. For 40 and 45 ft units the increase would be $750, they said

Increased Panamax Rates Boost Market Sentiment

Higher panamax freight rates have boosted sentiment in the market amid hopes for further rates increases during the week, shipbrokers said on Monday. They gave as prime example the latest U.S. Gulf to Japan fixture at a rate of $23.25 per ton of heavy grain for mid-July loading dates, this compared with the present Baltic Panamax Index showing an average $22.86 per ton. Firmer fixtures had been also reported for both the Pacific and the Atlantic, brokers said.

Ocean Freight Shipping Rates on the Rise

After a downtrend in the freight shipping tanker market since the middle of 2007, the industry has seen nothing but rate increases in the last month. This freight rate increase can affect consumers across the board, according to the freight transportation The cost of freight shipping can mean an increase in the cost of many consumer products, according to FreightBrokering.info, which is why it's so important to keep freight transportation costs down

Horizon Lines Report Container Volume, Revenue, Up in Q3 2012

Horizon Lines' financial report shows volume improves 3.4%, & rate, net of fuel up 2.9% from a year ago. Sam Woodward, President and Chief Executive Officer comments on third quarter 2012 financial results: "Horizon Lines generated a 3.4% improvement in container volume and a 2.9% increase in container revenue, net of fuel surcharges, for the third quarter, relative to the same period a year ago," said Sam Woodward, President and Chief Executive Officer

Hapag-Lloyd Increases Rate Increase for North America services

Freight rates have come under pressure in recent months with the entry of new players into the North Atlantic market. Moreover, costs, particularly for charters, bunkering and additional security measures, have risen. Hapag-Lloyd has thus decided to raise freight rates for the North Atlantic and for the US Gulf and the US West Coast with effect from February 1st 2007. The increase amounts to $200 for a 20-ft. container and $250 for a 40' container.

Panama Canal Releases 2Q Data

Total Canal transits decreased 2 percent during Q2 – from 4,053 to 3,971 transits. Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tonnage also dropped 2.6 percent – from 80.4 million PC/UMS tons to 78.4 million PC/UMS tons.  Passenger transits increased 34.8 percent – from 92 to 124 transits – while dry bulk transits rose 6.7 percent, from 586 to 625 transits and dry bulk cargo tonnage increased 10.4 percent, from 12.3 to 13.5 million PC/UMS tons.

Shipping: Finance Loosens, Confidence Grows

Despite a recent lull in the global economy, overall confidence levels in the shipping industry have shown a further rise over the past three months, reaching their highest level since May 2008. According to the latest Shipping Confidence survey by Moore Stephens, owners, managers, charterers and brokers all feel more confident about the shipping markets in which they operate, and more optimistic about making a major investment over the coming year

General Maritime to Sell, Leaseback Product Tankers

General Maritime Corporation (NYSE: GMR) announced that it has entered into memoranda of agreement to sell three product tankers, the 2004-built Genmar Concord, the 2005-built Stena Concept and the 2005-built Stena Contest, to affiliates of Northern Shipping Fund Management Bermuda, Ltd., an alternative capital provider to the shipping and offshore oil service sectors.  General Maritime will receive net proceeds totaling $61.7m for the sale of the three vessels