News / Asia-Europe misery for shippers: four-week delays, rate hikes and surcharges

© Sheila Fitzgerald

Shippers from Asia to North Europe face a severe capacity crunch, and carriers are set to add to their misery with mid-month FAK rises and peak season surcharges.

NVOCCs have told The Loadstar in the past few days they were experiencing three-to-four-week delays for FAVs (first available vessels) to North Europe, and even longer for the UK.

“We are paying their FAK rates, and even a premium on top, but we are really struggling to get boxes away from China,” said one source.

“I’m hearing ...