The British International Freight Association (Bifa) has welcomed a decision by the Far Eastern Freight Conference (FEFC) to suspend its congestion surcharge of US$145 per TEU that was introduced last month on westbound cargo from Asia to the UK.
"As we said at the time," said Bifa director general Peter Quantrill, "congestion surcharges can do nothing to address the issues that the FEFC claims to want to resolve.
"Although Bifa welcomes the decision, we note that the surcharge has been suspended rather than abandoned altogether and that the matter will be kept under review. Nevertheless, we are pleased that FEFC members appear to be listening to their customers on this occasion and hope that no attempt is made to reinstate the UK surcharge."
Mr Quantrill went on to say that "Bifa doubts whether the surcharge has had any impact on bringing about improvements to the port congestion situation that has apparently been detected by the FEFC. However, we welcome the fact that the FEFC lines now appear to concede that port congestion is a European-wide problem rather than one unique to the UK."
"As we said at the time," said Bifa director general Peter Quantrill, "congestion surcharges can do nothing to address the issues that the FEFC claims to want to resolve.
"Although Bifa welcomes the decision, we note that the surcharge has been suspended rather than abandoned altogether and that the matter will be kept under review. Nevertheless, we are pleased that FEFC members appear to be listening to their customers on this occasion and hope that no attempt is made to reinstate the UK surcharge."
Mr Quantrill went on to say that "Bifa doubts whether the surcharge has had any impact on bringing about improvements to the port congestion situation that has apparently been detected by the FEFC. However, we welcome the fact that the FEFC lines now appear to concede that port congestion is a European-wide problem rather than one unique to the UK."