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The East African Conference Lines (EACL) Trade Association has issued a notice to its member lines stating that the bunker surcharge for southbound routes has been raised to 54.56 percent.

The notice issued by the EACL London office said "Having regard to the increase in Bunker prices the Member Lines have announced that the current Bunker Surcharge will be revised to 54.56% effective on all shipments Southbound by vessels sailing from each port of loading on and after 10th May 2008.

"The situation will continue to be closely monitored and the surcharge adjusted accordingly," the statement said.

Members of the EACL Trade Association include a number of shipping lines operating in Mombasa and the East Africa Region. They include Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Co. S.A., Dutch shipping firm Weclines B.V. and Kenya National Shipping Line Ltd..

The latest rise in the fuel surcharge comes after bunker prices in African ports have continued to soar to record levels. Prices for IFO 180 in Durban have risen from $485 to $623 per metric tonne in under two months, whilst the price of marine gasoil (MGO) has increase from $949.50 per metric tonne on 26th March to current levels of $1225.

The new EACL surcharge for southbound routes represents a 12.47 percent increase from the previous level of 46.09 percent set on December 10th. The figure for the preceding quarter (September 10th to December 9th) was 37.63 percent.