Matson island-mainland box rate up US$120/westbound, $60/eastbound

MATSON Navigation Company, a US coastal-Hawaii container shipping line, announced an average 3.8 per cent increase of freight rates for its Hawaii service by US$120 per westbound container and $60 per eastbound container, from January.

The company said it will also raise its terminal handling charge by $175 per westbound container and $85 per eastbound container at the same time. Its terminal handling charge was initially carried out in 2003 to recover the costs relating to the cargo operations through terminals.

"This rate increase will help offset rises in operating costs and support ongoing investments in our Hawaii service," said senior vice president for ocean services Dave Hoppes.

"Terminal handling costs comprise over 40 per cent of Matson's operating costs," he said. "Matson continues to absorb most of the costs associated with terminal operations, the majority of which are driven by factors that are outside of our control, but needs to pass on some of the expenses to our customers."
(Source:www.schednet.com)