Terminal Handling Charges (THCs) imposed by shipping lines on forwarders and shippers have increased by a "phenomenal" amount despite carriers pushing ports for rate reductions.

Filip Beckers, head of international transport buying at Mars, said since the ending of the conference system in October some THCs had increased by over 30% and it was still unclear how they were calculated.

"What is most concerning to me as a shipper is that most THCs have gone up considerably ¨C by 25% to 30%."

"And THCs charged by the terminal operators to shipping lines, although they might not admit this, have not increased to the same extent," he said.

He added: "In my view over-recovery of costs has increased, and this answers the question of why THCs remain opaque ¨C if they are not transparent it is easier to charge something more, if they are transparent you have to explain and it is difficult to argue."

"Terminal operators and shipping lines work on supply and demand; unfortunately what we get passed onto us by the shipping lines does not reflect the supply and demand situation."

Beckers said the largest increase in THCs in northern Europe had been at Antwerp where they had increased since October by an average of 32%. In Rotterdam they were up 25% and Hamburg 27%.

He added differences between the THCs charged by the shipping lines had also increased ¨C the lowest in Hamburg was €170 (US$225) while the highest was €220.

Some shipping lines had also started to charge different amounts depending on hinterland mode of transport.

However, shipping lines had reduced the number of THCs they charge ¨C one line from around 3,000 to 300.