3 Hot Trends in International Shipping and Container Transport

In trying to make sense of recent sea freight and air cargo rate fluctuations, we've gathered information from several sources and made the following observations:

1) Rates are going up and staying up, not down
2) Space will be an issue probably all year
3) Expect “new” surcharges

IN SHORT: We're all paying for that great 12 months we all had with the lowest freight rates in History between Oct ’08 through Sep ’09.

• Lack of boxes adds to transpacific capacity squeeze, freight forwarders fear new surcharge
• Battle for Space on the Transpacific: Richard Owens, Asia Pacific CEO for DHL’s global customer solutions unit, told IFW that even “a company with DHL’s clout” was being forced to fight for space.

Here's a rate chart showing what we're seeing (as of 29-May-2010) at
Universal Cargo Management, Inc. 
 

CARRIER	EFFECTIVE DATE	2010 PSS				Remark
APL	2010.8.1	320	400	450	505	from China to USA (except Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands)
CMA	2010.6.15	320	400	450	510	from Asia to USA/Canada (East & West Coast, IPI, MLB) - cargo receipt date at origin
Cosco	2010.6.15	320	400	450	506	from Far East and Indian Sub-Continent to USA/Canada
CSAV	2010.6.15	320	400	450		from Asia to USA
CSCL	2010.6.1 ~ 2010.11.30	320	400	450	505	from Far East, Middle East and Indian Subcontinent countries/areas to USA
EMC	2010.6.15	320	400	450	506	from Far East (except India)/S.Africa to USA/Canada
	2010.6.15	360	450	506	570	from India to USA/Canada
Hapag	2010.6.28	320	400	450	510	from Asia and Indian Sub-Continent to USA/Canada, except India - date of cargo receipt at origin
	2010.6.28	300	375	425	n/a	from India to USA/Canada - date of cargo receipt at origin
Maersk	2010.6.15	320	400	450	510	from Far East Asia to USA/Canada (Transpacific Eastbound)
Matson	2010.6.16	320	400	450	506	Transpacific Eastbound (excluding Hawaii, Guam)
MOL (PSC)	2010.6.15 ~ 2011.3.31	400	500	565	635	from Asia to USA/Canada
MSC	2010.6.15	320	400	450		to USEC and US intermodal points via USEC
	2010.6.15	400	500	563		to USWC and US intermodal points via USWC
OOCL	2010.6.15 ~ 2010.11.30	320	400	450	505	to USA/Canada - base on cargo receiving date
Wanhai	2010.6.15 ~ 2010.11.30	320	400	450	510	to USWC

 

BOTTOM LINE: At Universal Cargo Management, Inc., we advise our clients to make reservations early if possible and structure your contracts carefully making certain thatall fees are clearly declared in order to prevent unpleasant surprises.