[photopress:logistics_container_ship_sunset.jpg,full,alignright]Shipping lines running the Taiwan — Hong Kong/South China trade announced that from July 1 they would levy a new surcharge of RMB400 per TEU to be collected from consignees in South China, regardless of whether the freight had already been prepaid in Taiwan.
Shipper organizations in Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau have called on their members to reject this.
Toland Lam, executive chairman of the Shenzhen Shippers’ Association, said, ‘South China shippers are very angry with shipping lines’ action, which is totally unjust. Shippers will reject the charge.’
Hong Kong Shippers’ Council chairman Willy Lin said the emergency bunker surcharge ‘violated international shipping practices’ and would not be accepted.
The shipping lines involved comprise most of the carriers on the trade, leaving shippers with no choice of taking their business elsewhere.
The annual volume on the trade is estimated to be around one million TEUs, and the shipper’s organization estimate that the lines will pocket $56 million from shippers in Hong Kong and South China.
Source: CargoNews Asia