PPA plans fee hike for container cargo

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is proposing increases on the storage rates for foreign containerized cargo, and is seeking comments from port users and stakeholders on the planned move.

The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) said last week that the PPA is looking to increase by 32 percent the fees for import, export and transshipment containers.

The PPA is also planning a 150-percent increase in the surcharge of corresponding storage rates with an increase for reefer containers, added the trade group.

These storage rates are collected by the PPA when shipments remain in their facilities beyond the free storage period of five calendar days after the day that the last item of cargo is discharged from the carrying vessel for imported cargo.

For exports, assessment starts four calendar days from the day that the cargo is received at the port.

For foreign transshipments, it is 15 calendar days from the day of arrival to the day of departure.

The proposed changes will see storage charges per day (after the free storage period of five days for imported 20-footer boxes) increase from P481.30 per day to the proposed P635.32 per day for the sixth to 10th day.

For the 11th to 15th days, it will increase from P529.43 to P698.85, from P577.56 to P762.38 for the 16th to 20th days, from P625.69 to P825.91 for the 21st to 25th days, from P673.82 to P889.44 for the 26th to the 30th days, and from P721.95 to P952.97 for the 31st day and beyond.

Export fees

For exported boxes, the new storage rates for a 20-footer after the free storage period of four days will be change from P60.15 per day currently to the proposed P79.40 per day for the fifth to sixth day, P120.30 to P158.80 for the seventh to 11th day, P132.33 to P174.68 for the 12th to 16th day, P144.36 to P190.56 for the 17th to 21st day, P156.39 to P206.43 for the 22nd to 26th day, P168.42 to P222.31 for the 27th to 31st day, P180.45 to P238.19 for the 32nd day and beyond.

For transshipments, the new daily storage charges for a 20-foot box after the free storage period of 15 days will increase from the current $10.94 per day to $14.44 per day for the 16th to 20th days, $12.03 to $15.88 for the 21st to 25th days, $13.13 to $17.33 for the 26th to 30th days, $14.22 to $18.77 for the 31st to 35th days, $15.32 to $20.22 for the 36th to 40th days and $16.41 to $21.66 for the 41st day and beyond.

Higher storage charges are also to be levied on all 35-, 40- and 45-foot foreign containerized cargo.

Philexport said that the PPA argued that increasing the storage charges will ensure optimal use of the yard and encourage immediate withdrawal of containers to prevent congestion. INQ