liner shipping

Wan Hai Lines vice president Davis Kao has pointed to rate restoration as the reason behind the company’s first price hike in 12 months.

The Taiwanese shipping firm will increase the cost on refrigerated cargo departing Asia, effective 15 March.

“The hike is to reflect costs, as cargo rates have been dragged down to a lower level than before we raised rates in March last year,” Kao said.

For cargo originating in China, Hong Kong and Korea, bound for other Asian destinations, reefer rates will rise US$50 per 20ft container (TEU) and US$100 per 40ft container (FUE).

The same rate rise applies for cargo departing from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand.

Rates will also increase US$500 per TEU and US$1000 per FEU from Asian origins to the Middle East, while shipments from Asia to India and Pakistan will rise US$300 per TEU and US$600 per FEU.

Wan Hai Lines reported NT$9bn (US$303m) in sales in the first two months of 2013, a 4.81 per cent rise on the corresponding period last year.