DESPITE Drewry’s World Container Index beginning to slide again this week – albeit by just 1% – spot rates on the Shanghai-Melbourne leg have risen two out of three weeks this month.
The first week saw the SCFI at USD 4,290/FEU, the second at 4,380/FEU and the third at 4,318/FEU.
Against this backdrop carriers are once again promulgating inbound rate rises for next month, with some extending the scope to South East Asia and the ISC.
Looking back to a couple we missed, on 15 November MSC introduced a USD 300/TEU rate recovery on all shipments from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan Japan and Korea to Australia, and a further GRI of USD 300TEU ex China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan to Australia East Coast ports (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Bell Bay) takes effect on 1 December 2024.
Maersk chipped in with a peak season surcharge, effective Wednesday (20 November) from Australia, NZ and Fiji to a wide range of destinations, levied at USD 600 for all dry & reefer containers. On 1 December there’s Maersk a PSS of USD 1000/TEU, 2000/FEU ex China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Taiwan to Australia, PNG and the Solomon Islands. An identical PSS applies to shipments from China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea to NZ, Fiji and French Polynesia. And Maersk is increasing its Equipment Positioning Service – Import (Inlands) (POI) for all containers from World to New Zealand via ports effective from 1 December 2024 for Non-Regulated countries and 21 December 2024 for Non-Regulated countries. For example, the rate will increase from NZD 70 per container to NZD 85, for world to Auckland.
ANL will be implementing a General Rate Increase from 1 December 2024, at USD 300/TEU dry/reefer & USD 600/FEU dry/reefer for all shipments from North East Asia to Australia East Coast. This increase will apply on top of current Spot/FAK rates subject to all applicable surcharges valid on time of shipment.
Then on 15 December ANL will introduce a GRI of USD 500/TEU dry & reefer and 1000/TEU dry & reefer, this time for all shipments from North East Asia to Australia East Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide & New Zealand.
Also on 15 December Cosco will also implement a rate restoration, on all shipments from Northeast Asia to all ports and points in Australia. This too will be USD 500/TEU and 1000/FEU. Simultaneously Cosco will apply a rate restoration of UD 300/TEU, 600/FEU on all southbound shipments from South East Asia to Australia.
Meanwhile, Neptune Pacific Direct Line is restoring rates on the Asia to Tahiti trade, by USD 200/TEU dry & reefer and 400/FEU dry & reefer applicable from 15 December. On the Australia/NZ to Tahiti trade, rates will rise by USD 225/TEU dry & reefer, and 360/FEU dry and reefer, effective from V1531 of Southern Pearl.
