Shipping firms to charge much more per container from March on various routes

A large number of shipping companies announced a sharp hike in freight rates for a variety of international container shipping routes at almost the same time in late January or early February 2012. Most of the price increases proposed by shippers are to take effect on 1 March and affect all shipments from China and a variety of other Asian countries to North and South Europe as well as to Russia’s European ports and the entire Mediterranean. A few of these increases are to be instituted in two instalments on 1 March and 1 April 2012. The proposed mark-ups are to average US$700 to US$800/TEU or US$1,400-1,600/40ft container.