Coronavirus pandemic has had an adverse impact on the global shipping sector and has pushed up freight charges lately thereby increasing the cost of exports and imports, claimed media reports citing industry people.
If the pandemic, which has disrupted the global supply chain and causing delays in shipment and congestion at several ports was not enough, major mainline operators have increased freight rates citing acute shortage of empty containers following a surge in demand for imports, say importers and exporters in the country.
As per reports, the fourth largest container shipping line globally, CMA-CGM, has announced implementing new freight charges from 1 January for routes between base ports in Northern Europe and the Indian subcontinent.
Further, operators running feeder vessels between Chittagong and various ports such as Port Klang of Malaysia, Singapore and Colombo have imposed emergency cost recovery surcharge of US $ 75 for each loaded container and US $ 37.50 for an empty container last month thereby increasing the freight rates.
According to the Chairman of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, Ahsanul Hoq Chowdhury, congestion at several ports was causing a pile-up of containers, and thereby leading to additional operating costs for vessels, forcing shipping lines to increase the freight rates.
