AVERAGE spot rates on the eastbound transpacific trade have increased 20 per cent as carriers introduced peak-season surcharges on June 10, with media reports indicating that they are making them stick, implementing most rate increases levied this year.

The Drewry benchmark rate for shipping one FEU from Hong Kong to Los Angeles rose to US$2,700 in the week of June 11, up from $2,250 the previous week.

The latest benchmark rate is 52.1 per cent higher than a year ago, when it averaged $1,775 per FEU. It is also 53.2 per cent higher than it was in the last week of 2011, before TSA carriers succeeded in implementing the first of three general rate increases on January 1.

The increase indicates that Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement (TSA) carrier members were able to impose more than two-thirds of the peak season surcharge of $600 per FEU that the TSA recommended on May 9.

Reports say that carriers have been able to hold on to most of the four rate increases hike levied this year on the eastbound transpacific. With the exception of two weeks when average spot rates eased, these rates have generally been holding steady since April 15, when TSA carriers put their most recent general rate increase into effect.

Carriers introduced recommended TSA rate increases of $400 per FEU on January 1, $300 per FEU on March 15 and another $400 per FEU on April 15.