Overseas Orient Container Lines, extending the shipping world's push toward higher prices, said Tuesday it will increase freight rates by $100 per 20-foot container as of March 1 on cargo moving from ports in North Europe, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea to ports in Australia and New Zealand.
OOCL said it is introducing the rate restoration program, “In order to maintain and strengthen the high level of service quality and a comprehensive global liner network for all of our customers.”
The Hong Kong based carrier said it will also apply a peak surcharge of $150 per TEU and $200 per 40-foot container on cargo from North Europe ports to Australia and New Zealand due to high seasonal demand, also effective March 1.
The increases follow OOCL announcements earlier this month of rate hikes on trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific services, part of a broad movement among container ship operators to raise prices this year following dramatic rate discounting during 2009.