TSA warns of unspecified peak season surcharge to be applied August 15

THE quasi-conference, Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement (TSA), has announced its intention of imposing a peak season surcharge on August 15 - without saying how much it will be.

The TSA press release said that after a two-month delay, shipping lines on Asia-US routes will implement the surcharge because retailers are beginning re-stocking shelves for the back-to-school and holiday seasons and businesses resume global sourcing of materials and components.


"Carriers have recently experienced a steady increase in traffic that suggests steady, stronger demand in the three months to come," said TSA administrator Brian Conrad.


"Based on more robust forward-bookings and other favourable market signals, the consensus is now that the eastbound trade lane has begun the customary seasonal ramp-up to a pronounced peak," he said.


Mr Conrad also said cargo demand is rising as are costs. Owned and leased container equipment remains in short supply, with prices at a premium. Railways and trucking charges have risen on key routes and end to end costs of repositioning empty containers back to Asia have increased with no offsetting revenue. These costs dramatically escalate during peak periods, he said.


TSA members include "K" Line, APL, CSCL, Maersk Line, CMA-CGM, MSC, Cosco, NYK, Evergreen, OOCL, Hanjin, Yangming, Hapag-Lloyd, Zim and Hyundai Merchant Marine.