APL announces Intra-Asia freight rate increase

Singapore, February 19th, 2010 Container shipping line APL today announced plans for a general rate increase in the Intra Asia trade.

The proposed increases will affect all trade from the Far East to India and Pakistan. The rises will be US$100 per TEU and US$200 per FEU and are effective March 1st, 2010.

APL said operating conditions in the Intra-Asia trade remained highly challenging, with freight rates at unsustainably low levels. The rate increases are, therefore, essential for APL to sustain its comprehensive service offering in the trade and to ensure the high level of reliability that customers demand from the carrier.<Korea Shipping Gazette>