As the possibility of strike action at ports on the US east and Gulf coasts draws nearer by the day, container shipping lines serving the region have begun to announce disruption surcharges, reports The Loadstar.
EOS
On 1 September, MSC notified customers it would apply a $1,000 per 20ft and $1,500 per 40ft Emergency Operations Surcharge (EOS) from 1 October (the date set for the strike to begin) on all shipments from Europe to the US east and Gulf coasts, as well as to ports in the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada.
Under US Federal Maritime Regulations, new price hikes and surcharges must be notified to the trade at least 30 days before implementation.
The French carrier has also advised customers that it would apply a $500 per teu rate ‘restoration initiative’ on all transatlantic shipments from 1 October.
Port strike surcharge
Today Hapag-Lloyd became the latest carrier to announce a port strike surcharge, revealing it would apply a Work Disruption Surcharge of $1,000 per teu from 18 October on container shipments to the US east and Gulf coasts.
These new surcharges serve as an advance warning of what may happen to rates in the event of a strike, Vespucci Maritime chief executive Lars Jensen told a Xeneta webinar yesterday.
Meanwhile, for US exporters, new analysis from supply chain visibility platform FourKites suggests the automotive and agricultural verticals in the US would be the most vulnerable to an extended strike.
“Automotive and agricultural exporters might find themselves in a particularly tight spot,” said Mike DeAngelis, head of international solutions at FourKites.
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Source: Theloadstar
