The European Shippers’ Council (ESC) has voiced its concerns over the sulphur surcharges that have been implemented by some shipping companies to cover the cost of rising fuel prices.
ESC states that it disapproves of the mechanism of surcharges and says that shippers should call for a dialogue with container liners to find the best mechanism to share the costs.
The council has criticised shipping companies for their bunker surcharges, saying that carriers that impose them unilaterally without any negotiation with shippers ignore a market approach to the global problem.
ESC calls out Maersk, MSC, and CMA CGM for announcing bunker adjustment factors recently, stating that this does not set an ideal cooperation scenario.
ESC states a clear request to shipping liners to sit together and discuss all freight costs and to come to a mutual agreement.
