Bunker Costs Push Intra-Asia Freight Rates Up 10% as Gulf Disruption Bites

By Alison Koo (The Loadstar) – The role of bunkers in freight rates has finally crossed into the intra-Asia market, with average rates rising by 10% over the past fortnight.

Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index showed that as of Friday, rates averaged $675 per feu, excluding terminal handling charges.

The largest gain was seen in the Shanghai-Singapore rate, which increased 18% from 13 March, to $746 per feu. This was followed by the Busan-Shanghai rate, which went up by 13%, to $53 per feu.

Bunker prices in Asia tend to be higher than in Europe and the US, as the region relies on