THE world's biggest container shipping company Maersk Line has announced a wide range of increases in freight rates to be implemented July 15, but mostly August 1.

The general rate increases begin on the east coast of South America, including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to Europe at US$100 per TEU and $150 per FEU starting August 1.

From the Far East Asia to Central America, Caribbean and west coast South America Maersk rates will increase or EUR91 (US$100.51) per TEU and EUR137 per FEU from August 1.

New rate hikes will hit cargo from mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, Korea, South, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan that is bound for Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Colombia (Santa Marta, Barranquilla, Cartagena).

There will be a per container increase of $1,050 for cargo from mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, South, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan, Myanmar bound for Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Buenaventura, Colombia.

There will also be an increase of $750 per TEU for cargo from the Middle East and South Asia to East Africa effective August 1.

There will be a rate increase of $325 per TEU on cargo from north and west India to Colombia and Puerto Rico from August 1 and well as a hike of $50 per TEU from the Far East Asia to West Africa starting August 1. 

There will be an increase of $500 per TEU from cargo from the east coast of South America to Middle East and the South Asian region starting August 1.

There will be a varied increase depending on the cargo for shipments from the east coast South America to India, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and the UAE. 

The increase for boxes containing sugar will be $150 per TEU while containers carrying prime paper, wood, scrap metal will pay an increase of $50 per TEU.

There will be $1,000 per TEU increase on cargo from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea bound for Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay starting July 15.

There will also be an increase of $300 per TEU and $400 per FEU on cargo from the Middle East and South Asian Area to Europe from August 1.

An increase of $300 per TEU and $400 per FEU will be applied to cargo from the Middle East and South Asian Area to Europe from August 1.

There will be an increase $300 per TEU and $400 per FEU on cargo from Middle East and South Asian Area to Syria.