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Rate Guidelines
Dry and Refrigerated Cargo


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Notice to Customers:  On October 29, 2009 WTSA lines adopted a voluntary guideline general rate increase (GRI) for all cargoes moving on member line vessels - including exempt commodities - to all Asian destinations. Guideline GRI amounts are as follows:

Dry Cargo

(effective December 1, 2009)
$100 per FEU / $80 per TEU from SoCal ports
$150 per FEU / $120 per TEU from other USWC/ EC/Gulf ports, and inland point intermodal


Refrigerated Cargo

(effective : January 15, 2010)

$250 per FEU / $200 per TEU from the USWC
$300 per FEU / $240 per TEU from USEC/Gulf ports and inland point intermodal

 

On December 15, 2009 WTSA lines have subsequently announced a GRI for all dry cargoes moving to all destinations on member line vessels - including exempt commodities - effective February 15, 2010. Guideline GRI amounts are as follows:

Dry Cargo

$100 per FEU / $80 per TEU from SoCal ports

$150 per FEU / $120 per TEU from other USWC/ EC/Gulf ports and inland point intermodal

 

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How Rate Guidelines are Developed

Throughout the year, WTSA member shipping lines conduct an ongoing review of the U.S.-Asia freight market. They study overall economic conditions, and specific trends in the movement of major commodities in the various country markets. They weigh factors such as commodity price movements, exchange rates, transportation cost as a component of total sale price, and competitive sourcing options.

From this process emerges a set of WTSA rate guidelines, in the form of two distinct listings, for dry and refrigerated shipments. These listings reflect the seasonal nature of many major commodities in the trade, as well as the distinct differences in the cargo mix and in customer service and equipment needs—from price-sensitive wastepaper and metal scrap to high-value chilled meats and produce.

The listings show recommended rate adjustments by commodity and effective date; notice of postponement or modification of previously announced adjustments; minimum rates where applicable; and promotional or other rates fixed for a set time period, with expiry dates. Both the dry and refrigerated listings are adjusted throughout the year, as particular commodity shipping seasons approach and market forecasts become clearer. As a result, dates six months or more in the future may not be completely filled in.

NOTE: Scheduled rate actions posted on this page represent voluntary, non-binding pricing guidelines, based on WTSA research and forecasting. They are intended to provide the shipping public with advance indication of broad pricing trends, and assist Asian buyers and U.S. exporters in their bidding and negotiations. Actual rates are set by the member lines individually, in their tariffs and in service contract negotiations with customers.



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Most Recent and Scheduled Rate Adjustments
2008– 2009

Dry Cargo
Commodity Action
Effective Date

Agricultural Products

(grain, soybeans,

cotton products,

leguminous

vegetables, meal, flour, corn products, starches, animal feed, seeds, food additives)

.

$200/FEU, $160/TEU increase.

$300/FEU bunker recovery charge broken out from base rates as applicable.

Increase in bunker recovery to $600.

by 1.15.08

 

4.1.08

 

 

7.1.08
Chemicals .

$300/FEU bunker recovery charge broken out from base rates as applicable.

Increase in bunker recovery to $600.

$300/FEU rate increase.

4.1.08

 

 

7.1.08

 

8.1.08
Clay .

$200/FEU, $160/TEU increase.

$300/FEU bunker recovery charge broken out from base rates as applicable.

Increase in bunker recovery to $600.

1.1.08

 

4.1.08

 

 

7.1.08
Cotton .

New minimum port-to-port rates and inland add-ons based on origin; maximum 10 days' detention free-time, with exceptions for Indonesia, Pakistan and the PRC; rates subject to fuel charges, origin/destination doc fees, Alameda Corridor charge, applicable security fees.

$150/FEU increase in port-to-port rates; inland rates based on guideline add-ons to new, higher rates; all rates subject to 3.1.10 bunker adjustment. (Note: Cotton rates exempted from 2.15.10 increase)

1.1.10

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


4.1.10
Dried Fruit/Nuts . $50/FEU increase for port-to-port moves, $100/FEU increase for intermodal moves.
9.1.07
Hay .

$300/FEU bunker recovery charge broken out from base rates as applicable.

$200/FEU rate increase from all origins; increase in bunker recovery to $600/FEU; Taiwan rates subject to DTHC.

4.1.08

 

 

7.1.08
Hides .

$300/FEU, $240/TEU increase; increase in bunker recovery to $600/FEU.

Second-stage increase, amount TBD; increase in bunker recovery to full, floating level.

7.1.08

 

 

10.1.08

Lumber

(rough timber,

ties, poles,

piling,

laminated

beams,siding,

plywood, core stock/veneers,

particle/fiber

boards)

  

$300/FEU bunker recovery charge broken out from base rates as applicable.

Increase in bunker recovery to $600.

$200/FEU, $160/TEU increase; forwarder compensation per tariff.

   4.1.08

 

 

   7.1.08

 

   9.1.08
Metal Scrap .

$50/FEU port-to-port, $100/FEU intermodal 2nd stage increase.

$300/FEU bunker recovery charge broken out from base rates as applicable.

Increase in bunker recovery to $600.

10.1.07

 

4.1.08

 

 

7.1.08
Onions .

New minimum rates for North and South Asia; rates subject to full DTHC, doc fees and floating bunker charge. Rates expire 3.31.09.

7.1.08
Pet Food . $200/FEU, $160/TEU increase.
3.1.05
Plastic Scrap .

$50/FEU, $40/TEU increase for port-to-port cargo; $100/FEU, $80/TEU for inland point, MLB internodal cargo.

$300/FEU bunker recovery charge broken out from base rates as applicable.

Increase in bunker recovery to $600.

12.1.07

 

 

 

4.1.08

 

 

7.1.08
Resins . $50/FEU, $40/TEU increase for port-to-port cargo; $100/FEU, $80/TEU for inland point, MLB internodal cargo.
12.1.07
Wastepaper .

$50/FEU increase for LA/LB port to port; $100/FEU for all other port to port; $200/FEU for intermodal cargo.

$200/FEU bunker recovery charge broken out from base rates as applicable.

$100/FEU base rate increase; increase in bunker surcharge application to minimum $350/FEU as applicable.

Increase in bunker surcharge application to minimum $500/FEU as applicable.

Increase in bunker surcharge application to minimum $600/FEU as applicable.

2.1.08

 

 

4.1.08

 

 

5.1.08

 

 

6.1.08

 

 

7.1.08

Woodpulp/

Kraft Liner

Board (KLB)

(milk carton stock/liquid packaging material; cellulose fibers; paper stocks; newsprint; paper in rolls; printing paper in rolls or pallets; paperboard)

  

$300/FEU bunker recovery charge broken out from base rates as applicable.

Increase in bunker recovery to $600.

 

$200/FEU, $160/TEU increase; forwarder compensation per tariff.

      4.1.08

 

      7.1.08

 

      9.1.08

Other Dry Cargo (NOS)/Freight All Kinds (FAK)

.

New minimum rates from PNW, PSW and EC all-water to Asia; inclusive of bunker, subject to DTHC (except PRC cargo); rates expire 9.30.09.

7.1.09


Refrigerated Cargo
Commodity Action
Effective Date
Apples/Pears,
Chilled 		.

New minimum N. Asia, S. Asia and Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) rates, valid through 8.31.10; rates subject to bunker, origin doc fee, DTHC (except PRC). Inclusive of 9.1.09 GRI.

9.1.09
Beef/Pork, Frozen and Chilled .

$1000/FEU increase to all current rates; $400/FEU add-on for inland Korea destinations. West Coast CFS charge increased to $650/FEU where carriers provide service.

7.1.08

 

 
Cherries New minimum contract rates per FEU to N. Asia, S. Asia and PRC; subject to DTHC (except PRC rates), bunker charge, documentation fee. Rates expire 1.31.08
6.1.07
Citrus,
Chilled		 .

New minimum rates via U.S. East Coast for PRC, the rest of N. Asia, and S. Asia; rates subject to bunker and inland fuel charges, DTHC (except PRC), doc fees. Rates expire 6.30.10.

New U.S. West Coast minimum rates to Korea, the rest of N. Asia, Vietnam, S. Asia; rates subject to bunker and inland fuel charges, DTHC (except PRC), doc fees.

10.16.09

 

 

 


1.15.10
Fish, Frozen
(squid, sardines, mackerel, croaker, bait fish, skate, monkfish, eel, hagfish)		 .

$300/FEU increase via California to PRC, $200/FEU increase to all other destinations; $200/FEU increase to all destinations via East Coast.

For sardines, $400/FEU increase, PNW to all destinations.
3.1.07
French Fries,
Frozen 		. $200/FEU, $160/TEU increase; separate net minimum rates for Japan ports only, subject to DTHC.
1.1.08
Melons . $200/FEU increase.
7.1.06
Poultry,
Frozen

$1000/FEU increase to all current rates; $400/FEU add-on for inland Korea destinations. West Coast CFS charge increased to $650/FEU where carriers provide service.

7.1.08

Seafood (NOS)

(black cod, bottom fish, halibut, crab, herring, herring roe, pollock/cod roe, salmon, chum salmon, salmon roe, all other)

 New minimum rates ex Seattle/Tacoma, with $200/FEU Portland add-on; new Alaska minimum through rates to Japan, Korea and PRC. All rates subject to full DTHC (except PRC), bunker charge, documentation fee and other applicable charges. All PNW rates expire 2.28.10.
3.1.08
Stone Fruit/
Grapes/Prunes/ Plums

New minimum rates for grapes per FEU to N. Asia, S. Asia and PRC; minimums include 9.1.09 GRI but are subject to DTHC (except for PRC rates), bunker charge, doc fees. Rates expire 1.31.10. Other stone fruit subject to 9.1.09 GRI.

9.1.09
Vegetables,
All kinds (VAK), Chilled

$300/FEU increase.

$500/FEU increase.

5.1.08

8.1.08
Vegetables,
Frozen		 $200/FEU, $160/TEU increase.
1.1.08


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