Container Rates – Up or Down?

Transportation rates are one of our favorite topics here at 3plwire.com and it looks like rates are bound to rise for Westbound Transpacific ocean traffic. Effective March 15, 2006 members of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) have agreed to raise NOS “cargo not otherwise specified” and FAK “freight-all-kinds” rates from the US to the Pacific basin by US$200 per 40′ container and US$160 per 20′ container. Container rates are also expected to rise for shipments of chemicals, resins, and plastics to Asia as well at US$100 per 40′ and US$80 per 20′ container effective April 1, 2006.

WTSA is a voluntary discussion and research forum of 11 major container shipping lines serving the trade from ports and inland points in the U.S. to destinations throughout Asia.

Members of the WTSA include the following:

American President Lines, Ltd.
China Shipping Group
COSCO Container Lines, Ltd.
Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan), Ltd.
Hapag Lloyd Container Line
Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd.
Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (K Line)
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (N.Y.K. Line)
Orient Overseas Container Line, Inc.
Yangming Marine Transport Corp.