Effective March 15, 2006, members of the Westbound Trans-Pacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) will increase rates on “cargo not otherwise specified” and “freight all kinds” classes of freight by US$200 per 40-foot container and US$160 per 20-foot container. The charges cover westbound shipments from the U.S. to Asia.
Cargo “not otherwise specified” (NOS) covers commodities not covered by standard carrier tariff descriptions. Freight all kinds (FAK) consists of less-than-container-load shipments assembled and shipped in a single container.
The WTSA also said it would recommend rate increases of US$ 100 per 40-foot container and $80 per 20-foot container for shipments of chemicals, resins and plastic scrap to all Asia destinations. That increase would take effect April 1, 2006.
Member lines of the WTSA are: American President Lines Ltd., China Shipping Group, COSCO Container Lines Ltd., Evergreen Marine Corp., Hapag Lloyd Container Line, Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd., Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. Ltd., Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Orient Overesas Container Line Inc. and Yangming Marine Transport Corp.
