Rates from South East Asian Ports to Australian Ports:

Shipping Lines have announced a General Rate Increase of between USD 100.00 and USD 200.00/20ft and USD 200.00 and USD 400.00/40ft container from all ports in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia to all Australian ports effective from 1st January 2018. It is expected that this increase will also flow onto LCL shipments with an anticipated increase of between USD 4.00 and USD 8.00 per cbm/1000kgs.

GPSM rates will be updated on our website.

Rates from Far East Asian Ports to Australian Ports:

Some Shipping Lines have announced a small General Rate Increase of between USD 25.00 and USD 50.00/20ft and between USD 50.00 and USD 100.00/40ft container from all ports in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China and Hong Kong to all Australian ports effective from 1st January 2018. Other carriers have implemented higher increases.

The rate levels from North East Asia have remained strong from the pre-Christmas volumes and we are not expecting any reductions until after Chinese New Year in February 2018.

GPSM rates will be updated on our website accordingly.

Increased Port Infrastructure Fees:

Please note that D P World is again increasing their Port Infrastructure Charge to be effective from 1st January 2018. The new charge will be $ 52.00/container in Melbourne, while in Sydney and Brisbane $ 45.00/container. GPSM web charges will be updated to reflect the new charge.

Chinese New Year Shipping Schedule:

We would remind clients that space in late January and early February 2018 is expected to be very tight and we would recommend that our Customer Service staff be advised of any urgent orders to ship in this period as soon as possible. We understand that some lines may offer “blank sailings” through January and February in an attempt to create a false space market with a view to keeping ocean rates at the highest level we have seen in the last decade.

Airline Fuel Surcharges from Hong Kong-Australia:

Airlines operating out of Hong Kong have announced an increase in the fuel surcharge for all airfreight shipments to Australia effective from 1st January 2018.

The rate will increase from HKD 1.20/kg to HKD 1.70/kg, GPSM web rates will be adjusted to reflect the new costs.

Melbourne Port Blockade:

The long-running port blockade at Melbourne’s Web Dock was eventually resolved just prior to Christmas holiday with the unions finally agreeing to the Court Order that had been issued a week earlier.

Melbourne port is now operating normally again with all three (3) main terminals back in full work mode.

Unions defy Supreme Court order that should see VICT operations resume

Further to our Newsflash on Wednesday 13/12/17, the below commentary is given by Victorian Road Transport Association on the on-going picket lines at Melbourne’s Web Dock VICT Container Terminal:

“The Victorian Transport Association is imploring the MUA and CFMEU to comply with Supreme Court orders issued yesterday 12/12/17 for their illegal picket at Victoria International Container Terminal to be disbanded.

On Tuesday, the Court issued orders against the MUA and CFMEU which prevents them approaching within 100 metres of VICT’s business. It also issued orders requiring the unions not to restrict access to VICT by either trucks or people, and requiring them not to encourage others to attend the site to do the same.

Despite the Court order, it is our understanding that the picket is still in place and trucks are not able to access containers at VICT. This arrogant defiance of a Supreme Court order is continuing to disrupt activities at the terminal, as well as trade and commerce throughout the state during the busiest time of the year for small businesses that are being denied access to their goods. The order from the Court was effectively a signal that the Victorian people should not be held to ransom by illegal picketing that has shut down the Port of Melbourne’s third stevedore, and it is stunning that the unions are showing such contempt.

Breaking the law, as the MUA and CFMEU are doing by defying these orders, is irresponsible, immature and selfish. It’s time they grew up and stop holding VICT and Victorians to ransom through these actions.

There is a prescribed system in place for matters like the one that led to this illegal picketing to be dealt with. To prevent further disruptions at the Port of Melbourne and embarrassment for Victoria as a place to do business, we urge all parties to use the industrial relations system and Fair Work Commission to have workplace disputes resolved”.

GPSM are pleased to advise that we have no clients containers involved in the dispute.

The shipping lines have been using DP World and Patricks Melbourne Terminals while this action has been continuing. It is hoped that the disruption is not escalated to include other Union branches and that the picket lines are removed as ordered by the Courts.

We shall keep everyone updated with further developments as we receive details.