CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd are joining MSC in increasing container freight rates for shipments from India to North America via general rate increases (GRI) scheduled for later this month.

CMA CGM is proposing a GRI of $500 per TEU and $600 per FEU for all shipments from India to the US East Coast, the US Gulf Coast, and Canada, while Hapag-Lloyd is aiming to raise rates by $450 per TEU and $500 per FEU for all India–North America shipments.

Both companies operate the Indamex services connecting western India with the US East Coast. Meanwhile, MSC has already issued a similar GRI notice that goes into effect on March 23. However, with a decrease in demand and ample capacity, it remains to be seen if these carrier GRI attempts will be effective in stopping the nearly 10-month slide in pricing.

Indian shippers are skeptical about the success of the general rate increase (GRI) proposed by container carriers CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC on trade lanes connecting India with North America.

They believe that there is too much capacity available and that the proposed rate increases are unlikely to stick. Moreover, some shippers in India are worried about “undeclared” sailing changes as carriers reroute vessels to other trades without prior notice, leaving them in the lurch.

MSC’s India-US East Coast INDUSA string has experienced such a rerouting, with its MSC Pegasus vessel redirected to Sokhna Port, while the previously diverted vessel was the MSC Shay.