THE Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is to put a general rate increase (GRI) into effect next month on all westbound cargo shipped from the Eastern, according to media reports.

The Geneva-based carrier said the rate hike will take effect on June 10 on all import cargo from ports in Turkey, the Black Sea and Greece, affecting those transshipping from the Far East to destinations in the Americas. The increase will also apply to all cargo transshipped from the ports of Istanbul, Gebze, Mersin, Gemlik, Izmir, Aliaga, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Beirut, Limassol, Alexandria, Port Said, Constanza, Odessa, Burgos, Varna, Poti, Illychivsk and Novorossyisk.

The GRI will be US$200 per TEU and $400 per FEU. The company said it will include the rate increase in the bill of lading under the same payment condition as the basic freight.