High bunker prices trigger carrier surcharges
Reacting to the large increases in the market price of bunker fuel, several conferences of container shipping lines have announced plans to pass on some of their extra operating costs to shippers through double-digit increases in bunker charges.
The United States South Europe Conference said that its bunker adjustment factor per 20-foot container will rise from $131 in June to $192 in July. For 40-foot and 45-foot boxes, the surcharge will increase from $262 in June to $384 in July. The United States South Europe Conference carriers are Maersk Sealand, Hapag-Lloyd and P&O Nedlloyd.
Similarly, the Far Eastern Freight Conference announced Friday that its bunker adjustment factor will go up from $90 per TEU in June to $109 per TEU in July.
The Indian Pakistan Bangladesh Ceylon Conferences, which covers the trade between Europe and the Indian Sub-continent, has notified shippers that it will increase its bunker surcharge from $80 per TEU now to $95 per TEU on July 1.