News / As trade rebounds in Australia, war of words erupts over surcharges

Although trade with the Far East is booming, shipping line surcharges in Australia are “spiralling out of control” – and carriers blame port congestion.

Last week, Alphaliner highlighted a significant increase in cargo demand in Australia, coinciding with the country’s peak season.

“The rise is fuelled both by the Far East-Australia trade itself and by increased transhipment activity to and from other regions,” according to the analyst.

It said spot rates into Melbourne were the highest in a decade, having more than doubled ...