News
All-in freight rates for container services from South Korea to North America and Europe both picked up in mid-January 2013, anticipating that freight movement will increase until the Chinese Spring Festival holiday, which falls on Feb. 10 this year, according to the Korean Shippers’ Council (KSC).
On the trans-Pacific trade, container rates were raised on Jan. 15 by US$300-350 per FEU for services destined to the west coast of North America and $350-400 per FEU for those to the east coast.
Reflecting these hikes, container service fares from South Korea to the west coast of North America went up by $30 to $2,700 per FEU; to Atlanta, Chicago and other inland destinations, by $400-600 to $4,500-5,200 per FEU; and to the east coast, by $250 to $4,000 per FEU.
On the Europe trade, a peak season surcharge (PSS) of $375 per TEU was implemented.
As a consequence, rates for services from South Korea to Antwerp, Rotterdam and other ports in North Europe rose by $100 from the previous month to $1,800 per TEU due to a decrease in slots to deal with growth in demand before the Lunar New Year.
Container rates for services to Istanbul, La Spezia and other Mediterranean destinations increased by $100-150 to $1,800-1,900 per TEU.
