THE Westbound Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement (WTSA) has recommended a new round of rate increases with effect from July 1 for frozen and chilled beef, pork and poultry, as well as animal hides, as a guideline for its member carriers in renewing the upcoming contract for those cargo.

For those cargo shipped from the US west coast, the rate increase will be US$300 per FEU, and for intermodal and the US east coast all-water shipments, the increase will be $400 per FEU. Rates for hides will be increased by $100 per container. Proportionate increases will be applied to other box sizes, according to the WTSA statement.

WTSA executive administrator Brian Conrad said shipment of the so-called "protein cargo and hides" generally move under 12-month contracts running from July 1 to June 30. Therefore, "they have not been covered under previously announced general rate increases for 2012."

Mr Conrad said demand is strong in Asia for US exports of frozen and chilled meat. Also, supply in different trade lanes remains limited for refrigerated equipment in circulation, particularly temperature-controlled container for carrying chilled commodities.

WTSA members include APL, Cosco, Evergreen, Hanjin, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), "K" Line, NYK, OOCL and Yang Ming.