French shipping company CMA CGM is putting a hefty surcharge on reefers for shipments to Yantian as congestion continues and container freight rates soar. The company has joined Ocean Network Express (ONE) in implementing a surcharge for reefers bound for Yantian, China as it says due to congestion most reefer plugs are already occupied. It recommended changing the port of discharge and warned that otherwise it may be forced to reroute cargo. To cover the costs of rerouting shipments bound Yantian CMA CGM is implementing a $1,250 per reefer container surcharge.
Most reefer plugs have already been occupied, according to the French carrier which has implemented a PCS of US$1,250 per reefer box from 11 June, except from US & territories, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, Uruguay and Paraguay, where the surcharge will be effective from 21 July.
Maersk has reported that the eastern area of the terminal at Yantian, which handles mainline vessels, is operating at 45% of its normal productivity.
Seatrade-maritime.com reports that, with congestion due to heightened Covid-19 prevention measures also affecting the South China ports of Nansha and Shekou, container lines are omitting calls and rerouting hundreds of sailings.
The congestion is also pushing up already record freight rates. Digital freight forwarder ZenCargo reported that transporting a 40-foot container of cargo from Shanghai to Rotterdam now costs a record $10,522.
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