Container lines on the transpacific trade have pushed back a planned peak season surcharge by two weeks to the end of June.

The member lines of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) said a planned $400 per feu peak season surcharge had been pushed back from 15 June to 30 June to coincide the expiry of various market rates at the end of June.

Despite high levels of utilisation lines on the transpacific trade have struggled to raise rates to sustainable levels of profitability.

“Our members are seeing steady vessel utilisation ranging from mid-90% to full despite new capacity coming into the transpacific market,” said TSA executive administrator Brian Conrad. “This is a pivotal point for them in planning ahead for the peak months to provide space and equipment availability, schedule reliability and service differentiation. After facing serious operating losses across the trade in recent years, carriers’ strategic choices will be decided in large part by available revenue.”