Most of the carriers to NZ are currently fully booked and as a result some have started to short ship containers at the transhipment hub ports, due to increased seasonal demand. We are anticipating possible space problems between now and mid - November. One of the underlying issues surronding this problem has been the preference of carriers to move higher revenue securing Australian bound cargo en-route to NZ, as freight rates into Australia have increased dramatically over the past two months. The carriers have announced their intention to increase NZ rates by USD 300.00 per TEU (20' FCL) and USD 600 per FEU (40' FCL) between 21st September and 01 October 2009. All LCL rates will subsequently be increased by USD12.00 with effect from 01 October 2009.
It should be noted that freight rates were at there lowest level for some years but with this posted increase tthey will return to the same level as experienced in January 2009. (excluding increases in BAF and the recently announced Peas Season Surcharge).
It is expected that we will see rate reduction from December onwards.