Liner operators are imposing surcharges ahead of expectations that US East Coast port workers will resume strike action on 15 January.
Linerlytica’s report this week stated that the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the US Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents the US East Coast terminal operators, remain deadlocked in their wage negotiations.
The consultancy stated: “Stakeholders are gearing up for another port strike on 15 January 2025. Various carriers have already issued advisories to their customers on contingency actions in the event of a strike, with expectations of a coast-wide closure of ports and container depots across the US East and Gulf coasts expected to cause transpacific freight rates to spike.”
Maersk Line has announced a surcharge of US$1,500 per TEU, US$3,000 per 40-foot container, and US$3,780 for a 45-footer, depending on the impact of supply chain disruptions.
CMA CGM is imposing a surcharge of US$800 per TEU and US$1,000 per FEU for exports from US East and Gulf coast ports, and an import surcharge of US$1,500 per TEU. Hapag-Lloyd will implement a Work Disruption Surcharge of US$850 per TEU and US$1,700 per FEU for imports from North Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Oceania, and Latin America.
Hapag-Lloyd also announced a Work Interruption Destination Surcharge of US$1,000 per TEU for imports from East Asia.
On 27 December 2024, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) showed gains in Transpacific rates, with the Shanghai-US West Coast rate gaining 9% from the previous week to close at US$4,581/FEU and the Shanghai-US East Coast rate going up by about 8%, to US$6,074/FEU.
Linerlytica added: “China-to-US freight rates have recovered all of their losses from the previous six weeks, with further strength expected in the coming weeks, ahead of a potential US East Coast port strike. Carriers will be imposing emergency US East Coast surcharges of US$1,000 to US$2,000 per FEU if the strike goes ahead, with US West Coast rates also expected to spike due to cargo diversions.”
Alison Koo
Asia Correspondent
