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Matson cuts fuel surcharge again
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Posted on Nov 27 2008
Matson Navigation Co. will be lowering its fuel surcharge on Sunday for the sixth consecutive time, even as it announced plans to increase its shipping rates and terminal handling fee in February next year.
Matson’s fee for its Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and Micronesia service will decrease by 4.5 percentage points to 16.5 percent from 21 percent.
It is also lowering its fuel surcharge by 4.5 percentage points to 15 percent from 19.5 percent for shipments between Hawaii and the mainland.
“Following an extended period in which oil costs hit historical record highs, we have been able to reduce Matson’s fuel surcharge by 27.25 percentage points in a relatively short time frame,” said Dave Hoppes, Matson senior vice president of ocean services. “We are hopeful this current trend will continue, resulting in further decreases.”
Most customers will see a reduction in shipping costs ranging from $110 to $170 per container under the latest decrease. Most customers have seen a decrease in shipping costs ranging from $640 to $1,015 as a result of the overall reduction since September.
Matson’s last adjustment to its fuel surcharge was on Nov. 16 when it lowered the rate by 5.5 percentage points for its Hawaii, Guam/CNMI and Micronesia services.
Matson had announced Wednesday that it will raise its rates for the company’s Guam/CNMI service by $120 per westbound and eastbound container, effective Feb. 1 next year. The NMI rate increase applies to Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Matson will also raise its West Coast terminal handling charge by $175 for both westbound and eastbound containers, also effective Feb. 1, 2009.
Matson will also implement a new crane surcharge of $125 per container, which is designed to help recover costs associated with the purchase and operation of three gantry cranes in Guam; the new charge will be implemented in March 2009, when the cranes have started operations.
The increase will be filed with the Surface Transportation Board. [B][I](Saipan Tribune)[/I][/B]
