Container lines recommend plastic scrap rate adjustment

Recycling Today, Nov, 2004

Shipping lines in the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WSTA) have agreed on the need to raise freight rates on shipments of plastic scrap from the United States to Asia.

Effective Oct. 1, 2004, WTSA has recommended increases of $100 per 40-foot container (FEU) and $80 per 20-foot container (TEU) on plastic scrap shipments from points of U.S. origin to all destinations in Asia.

The scheduled rate increase reflects the rising demand and the increased carrier costs associated with scrap plastic shipments. U.S. containerized plastic scrap exports to Asia during first half 2004 totaled 26,000 FEU, up 11.9 percent from first half 2003. China accounts for just more than half of that total, or 13,600 FEU, which is up 12 percent from the first half 2003.

The Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement, headquartered in Oakland, Calif., is a research and discussion forum of 13 major ocean container shipping lines that carry cargo from ports and inland points in the United States to destinations throughout Asia and the Indian subcontinent.