MEMBER lines of Asia Australia Discussion Agreement (AADA) will levy a rate increase of $300 per TEU and $600 per FEU for cargo from mainland China and Hong Kong to ports and points in Australia from May 15.

This has been called a rate restoration programme and the increase will apply in full on top of existing ongoing market rates and will be subject to accessorial surcharges applicable at the time of shipment.

AADA is a voluntary discussion forum of 17 ocean carriers: ANL Singapore, APL, China Shipping Container Line (HK), Cosco, Evergreen Line, Hamburg Sud, Hanjin Shipping, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, "K" Line, Maersk Line, MSC, MOL, NYK, OOCL, PIL, Sinotrans Container Lines, TS Lines and Yang Ming.