Maersk Line

Danish group Maersk Line has announced that it is bumping up rates on a number of services due to 'current unsustainable conditions', with services to and from West Africa and those between Asia and Latin America the latest to be affected.

According to Maersk Line, the trading conditions for carriers operating in these two markets have been subject to unacceptable rate levels.

'The rate increases are necessary to continue to operate our services with the high level of reliability our customers have come to expect from Maersk Line,' the group said in statement.

For Asia-Latin America services, the changes are as follows:

- US$300/US$600 per 20ft/40ft container between Asia and Mexico and the west coast of Central America, effective 15 August 2009
- US$200/US$400 per 20ft/40ft container between Asia and Panama, effective 15 August 2009
- US$350/US$700 per 20ft/40ft container between Asia and the west coast of South America, effective 1 September 2009

For India and Sri Lanka to West Africa services, the changes are:

- US$250 per TEU, effective 1 September 2009

For the Asia-West Africa Trade Agreement (AWATA), the changes are

(Far East to/from West Africa)

- US$250 per TEU, effective 15 August 2009

(Middle East and south Asia to West Africa)

- US$250 per TEU, effective 1 September 2009