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Member lines of the Asia Australia Discussion Agreement (AADA) have announced plans to increase the bunker surcharge for cargo shipments from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan to Australia.

The revised surcharge will be adjusted to US$225 per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) and US$450 per forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU) for dry and refrigerated containers effective from May 15th 2009, except Taiwan where it will be increased from May 30th 2009.

Meanwhile, freight rates for shipments originating from Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan and destined for Australia will be raised on June 1st 2009. Dry and refrigerated cargoes will increase by US$250/TEU and US$500/FEU on top of existing market rates.

AADA members are ANL Singapore Pte (ANL), China Shipping Container Line (HK), COSCO Container Line, Gold Star Line (HK) (Zim/GSL), Hamburg Sud (HSDG), Hanjin Shipping, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ("K" Line), Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC), Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL Line), Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL).