Shipping lines have announced to levy 300 dollars for a 20-foot container and 400 dollars for a 40-foot box as peak season surcharge from June 15.
Sources at shipping carriers, operating between Asia and the US, said on Tuesday that the levy had been decided in view of the cargo rush for the US from June to October from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and other Asian countries.
They said the surcharge was a regular annual phenomenon during this part of the year.
The main cargo for the US from Pakistan is textile items, including yarn, cloth, towels and bed sheets. There is not much general cargo on the route from Pakistan.
The lines are also charging fuel surcharge from the shippers at the rate of 135 dollars for a smaller box and 230 dollars for a bigger box. The levy was imposed about six months ago and its level goes up and down with the fluctuations in oil prices in the international market.
Shipping lines had also announced a General Rate Increase (GRI) in May for cargo to the US, but it had not been fully implemented due to the competition amongst lines.
This is the second increase in freight by the shipping lines in just 15 days.
A GRI was announced on June 1 for cargo, destined for Europe, at the rate of 300 dollars and 500 dollars for small and big boxes respectively.