CMA CGM ship

French shipping line CMA CGM has announced that it is increasing rates on its Asia-Mediterranean service in a bid to maintain service efficiency.

The group is increasing rates on its Asia-west Med/BlackSea/Adriatic/east Med service by US$200 per TEU on 1 June 2009 and then on 1 July 2009 respectively.

Rates on the eastbound from west Med/Black Sea/Adriatic/west Med to Asia service will rise by US$150 per container on 1 July 2009.

'CMA CGM has taken this decision to keep providing its valued customers with the same reliable and efficient services they have been accustomed to,' the group said in a statement.

The news came in the same week that Danish shipping group Maersk Line revealed that it would be making rate increases on services from northern Europe to north Africa and east and west Mediterranean, as well as from Asia to the Mediterranean.

'The trading conditions for the carriers operating in these markets are still subject to unacceptable rate levels and the situation is unsustainable in the long term,' the group said. '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 Intra Euromed service will see an increase of €75 per TEU effective 1 May 2009, with a US$250 per TEU increase on the Asia-Europe service on 1 June 2009.