Matson's to raise rates on Hawaii, Guam and Micronesia services
US carrier specialising in the Pacific trade, Matson Navigation Company, has announced that it will implement a rate hike from January 4 on its Hawaii service of US$225 per westbound container and $110 per eastbound container.
The shipping line also intends to raise the rates of its Guam/Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) and Micronesia services by $225 for both westbound and eastbound containers, effective January 25.
The company said in a statement that both increases will be filed with the Surface Transportation Board. In both cases no adjustment will be made to the company's terminal handling charges (THC).
The carrier estimates that the rate adjustment will result in shipping costs increasing by an average of 5.4 per cent on its Hawaii service.
"This rate increase will help offset rises in operating costs and support ongoing investments in our Hawaii service," said vice president Dave Hoppes.
"The adjustment is consistent with our longstanding philosophy of implementing modest, incremental increases as necessary to maintain the highest levels of service, and is identical to increases implemented in 2012, 2013 and 2014."
The $225 per TEU rate hike for company's Guam/CNMI and Micronesia services also applies to the Republic of Palau and the Marshall Islands.
"This is Matson's second rate increase for Guam/CNMI and Micronesia in four years," said Mr Hoppes. "The increase will also support ongoing investments in our service to the region."