|
Several
shipping lines based in Asia are
preparing to introduce war risk
surcharges on routes going to the
Middle East.
The
region's shipping lines are moving
to pass on additional cost of
either sailing to Europe via the
Suez Canal or regionally to the
Middle East through surcharges.
Neptune
Orient Lines said whatever
surcharges are imposed will be
passed onto customers.
Yang
Ming Line has applied to the
Taiwanese authorities to charge
war premiums of NT$500 per TEU for
routes to Europe through the
Middle East.
A
group of six feeder shipping lines
serving the Middle East Gulf and
Pakistan, including Samudera
Shipping Line and Sea Consortium,
have announced they will implement
a war surcharge for all cargoes
from Singapore, Colombo and Port
Klang.
The
16 member Asian Feeder Discussion
Group has warned it could
introduce an emergency bunker
surcharge with just seven days
notice.
"We
are already seeing a steady
increase in bunker prices even
before the engagement of US armed
forces in Middle East/Pakistan,”
one of the member lines said.
Bunker
prices have increased by over 15
per cent overnight.
Industry
sources said feeder operators are
in no position to absorb such
increases in bunker costs.
|
