Ocean carriers are continuing to impose various surcharges whilst keeping base rates stable; the unpredictability of these surcharges are jeopardizing customer relations and profitability, freight forwarders claim. Some shipping lines announce ’emergency’ bunker and revenue charges, when they already have a number of surcharges in place. This makes it difficult for members of the freight industry to keep track of charges and make sure that they preserve their margins by passing the charge on to the exporters and importers who are their customers.
Some carriers have even introduced a ‘peak season surcharge’ for China – at a time when most Chinese factories are shut for Chinese New Year!
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