Against the background of the difficult port congestion problem and extreme shortage of shipping capacity, many container shipping giants took the lead in deciding to freeze and increase freight rates. However, Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world's second largest container shipping company, plans to increase the U.S. line freight rates by nearly 10,000 US dollars.
Recently, Mediterranean Shipping Company has issued two price increase notices. Starting from October 15, the basic freight rate (GRI) per FEU for the West and East US will be increased by US$3,000, the peak season surcharge (PSS) will be US$3,000, and the port congestion surcharge will be increased. (CGS) USD 2,500. The increase range includes South China ports and Hong Kong, and the destination ports are goods at the East and West ports of the United States.
According to a notice from Mediterranean Shipping, after all three surcharges are collected, the US West Line will increase by US$8,500 per FEU, and the three freight rates for 45-foot special containers will increase by a total of US$10,761. Comparing the latest Shanghai Export Container Freight Index (SCFI) data, the freight rate per FEU from the Far East to the US West is US$6,322. The surcharge price of Mediterranean Shipping even far exceeds the freight itself.
Previously, the two major container shipping giants CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd announced that they would freeze freight rates. Even so, MSC decided to increase prices. Some people in the logistics industry believe that this move of Mediterranean Shipping is to test the market reaction. If this wave of price increases is successful, the surcharge will rise to exceed the freight rate, which has reached an unimaginable point, and everyone's costs will increase. Not a good thing for the industry.
Some shipping companies pointed out that the freight rates of each company are different. Mediterranean Shipping Company may have obtained the consent of the relevant regional government agencies to report a price increase on the grounds that the freight rates are lower than those of its peers. However, the registration was filed, and the actual increase is impossible. It will be that high.
Although CMA CGM spot freight rates are frozen, additional charges are not included. A person in charge of a foreign trade company said: "The shipping giant announced that the spot freight price will not increase. However, this freight rate is only a basic price and does not include surcharges. The actual freight price paid will still increase."
In this regard, CMA CGM Business people have also said: "Although freight rates are frozen, CMA CGM can still charge other additional fees. The actual transaction price is based on loading the goods on board, and the fees still depend on the market supply and demand mechanism." There are also domestic cargo solicitations. Practitioners said: "CMA CGM's fuel surcharges, port congestion surcharges, and peak season surcharges will all be adjusted according to market conditions."
Some industry insiders pointed out that the lack of increase in freight rates is artificial suppression, while surcharges are a function of users. The concept of payment will be adjusted accordingly as the overall demand grows. If the surcharge rate does not increase or even decline after the National Day holiday, it means that freight rates should have peaked this year.
However, some experts analyzed that judging from the skyrocketing surcharges, the container shipping industry is still in a seller's market, and overall the prospects for the first half of next year are still quite optimistic.
