MSC has announced a significant increase in FAK (Freight All Kinds) rates on routes between Asia and Europe, as from June 1st.
The carrier is imposing a $200 container surcharge on the Asia-Northern Europe route, bringing the total tariff to $4,700/FEU. There is even greater cost increase on routes to the Med., with an $800 – $1,000 extra charge, pushing rates up to $5,500/ 40-ft box for the Western Mediterranean.
As Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime, points out, the Italian-Swiss shipping line’s move nevertheless reflects a significant divergence from the real spot market rates in international indices. Currently, the WCI (World Container Index) quotes the Shanghai-Rotterdam route at just $2,413/ FEU and the Shanghai-Genoa route at $3,701/FEU.
This significant gap is also confirmed by the NYFI index, which stands at $2,100 for 40-foot containers bound for Northern Europe.
Translation by Giles Foster
