Container shipping line APL announced plans for a general rate increase in the Intra Asia trade. The proposed increases will affect all trade from the Far East to India and Pakistan. The rises will be $100 per 20 ft container and $200 per 40-ft container and are effective 1 March 2010.
APL said operating conditions in the Intra-Asia trade remained highly challenging, with freight rates at unsustainably low levels. The rate increases are, therefore, essential for APL to sustain its comprehensive service offering in the trade and to ensure the high level of reliability that customers demand from the carrier.
(www.apl.com)