WTSA Lines To Phase In Bunker Charges For Scrap Fiber Shipments To Asia

摘要

Container lines in the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) reported plans to begin recovering a greater share of fuel costs in their contracts with scrap paper shippers. Effective January 1, WTSA lines said they intend to assess bunker fuel surcharges separately from base freight rates for scrap paper, and allow those surcharges to float, adjusted on a regular basis to reflect fluctuations in world bunker fuel prices. Scrap paper contracts have typically included provisions mitigating the bunker surcharge and folding it into an all-inclusive rate, owing partly to the low shipment value and unique price structure of U.S. wastepaper shipments to Asia, said WTSA.