Asian Shippers Council protest emergency bunker surcharges

THE Asian Shippers Council rallied against emergency bunker surcharges from shipping lines serving cross strait routes, claiming they are "unnecessary" and "should be temporary in nature [and] introduced after consultation."

The ASC believe that a charge of HK$440 (US$56.77) on freight which may have been prepaid in Taiwan should not be dumped at the consignee's doorstep as "traditionally charges and surcharges are collected from the party that pays the freight."

With global bunker fuel prices spiking up to 60 per cent the ASC view an increase as just another extra charge imposed on shippers because of fluctuating fuel prices.

Councils within the ASC which include China, Taiwan and Korea, are seeking local governmental intervention to stop bunker fuel charges, added a report from Journal of Commerce.

(Source: www.schednet.com)