Maersk Line confirmed that it is postponing by two weeks the implementation of the increase in the peak season surcharge on Asia-Europe cargo that it announced on June 15.
“The effective date of the PSS increase from Asia (including Taiwan) to Northern Europe has been extended, thus now taking effect on August 1 and not July 15 as announced previously,” said Michael Storgaard, a Maersk spokesman in Copenhagen in an email.
The surcharge of $750 per 20-foot equivalent unit, $1,000 per 40-foot equivalent unit and $1,200 per 40-foot high cube is expected to remain in place through the third quarter — traditionally the peak season for containerized ocean shipments.
By The Numbers: Asia-Europe Westbound Container Traffic.
Storgaard did not explain why Maersk had postponed the date of the surcharge.
Even before it officially announced it, Maersk Line had warned its customers on June 15 to expect a peak season surcharge because of a shortage of container availability for exports out of Asia lasting through the peak season.
But the shortage of containers has eased somewhat and carriers have been ordering new container equipment to make up for the shortage.
“The effective date of the PSS increase from Asia (including Taiwan) to Northern Europe has been extended, thus now taking effect on August 1 and not July 15 as announced previously,” said Michael Storgaard, a Maersk spokesman in Copenhagen in an email.
The surcharge of $750 per 20-foot equivalent unit, $1,000 per 40-foot equivalent unit and $1,200 per 40-foot high cube is expected to remain in place through the third quarter — traditionally the peak season for containerized ocean shipments.
By The Numbers: Asia-Europe Westbound Container Traffic.
Storgaard did not explain why Maersk had postponed the date of the surcharge.
Even before it officially announced it, Maersk Line had warned its customers on June 15 to expect a peak season surcharge because of a shortage of container availability for exports out of Asia lasting through the peak season.
But the shortage of containers has eased somewhat and carriers have been ordering new container equipment to make up for the shortage.