CMA CGM hikes rates, surcharges from US in July, other trades in August

CMA CGM is implementing a series of rate hikes and peak-season surcharges that will take effect on US services in July and on other trades in August.

The French shipping line said rates from the western and eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea to the US east coast would increase on July 11 by US$150 per dry and reefer TEU and $250 dry and reefer FEU.


CMA CGM will levy a peak-season surcharge on shipments from Asia to the US, the Canadian west coast and US east coast of $320 per TEU, $400 per FEU and $450 per 40-foot high-cube.


Effective August 1, shippers face a $600 per TEU on shipments from Asia to the west and east coasts of South America, the west coast of Central America and Mexico, reported Newark`s Journal of Commerce. Rates from Asia to the Caribbean will also increase by $560 per TEU and $800 per 40-footer at the beginning of August.


The carrier is also introducing a peak-season surcharge of $100 per TEU from July 15 to August 1 on the Asia-South Africa trade route.


It is also levying a $125 per TEU operational surcharge starting from July 15 for all shipments from Qingdao to north Europe to "cover increased costs incurred when fog forced the port to close".


"The port has been closed on average three days a week over the past month as dense fog prevents ships berthing and hinders normal terminal operations. The lost time has to be recovered by a significant increase in fuel consumption due to higher sailing speeds and omitting port calls that generate additional feeder expenses," the report said.


The surcharge will be removed when operations return to normal, the carrier said.