KATHMANDU: Shipping companies have increased the shipping and container charges for overseas trade. Traders say that the transportation cost, which has been rising since the outbreak of Covid-19, is now at an all-time high.
Importers say that container fares have also doubled in the first week of September. Ashish Lath, an importer, said that the container charges that were between USD 3500 to 4000 while importing goods from the Chinese port to Birgunj dry port until August has spiked to USD 8000.
Traders said that the increase in fares is due to the imbalance in the supply and demand of containers globally. Containers have been in short supply in European and American countries since the beginning of September.
Lath, who is also the secretary of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the shipping companies have increased the fares by taking advantage of this opportunity. According to the traders, shipping companies have been raising fares since March last year amid the Covid-19 crisis.