Ferry lines raising prices despite drop in global shipping costs - operators

Ferry lines that carry cargo to Malta have increased their rates this year despite global shipping rates declining, trailer operators have said. 

The Association of Tractor and Trailer Operators said that despite its attempts to tackle the issue with ferry operators, “these efforts have been futile”.

The association was reacting to a parliamentary speech by Labour MP Carmelo Abela, who argued this week that importers had a duty to lower their prices as global shipping rates declined.

Importers had bumped up their prices when rates went up, he said, and should therefore do the opposite now that the situation was stabilising. 

“When shipping prices increase, the price of the product they are shipping increases also. But when prices drop, this drop should also reflect on the price of the product,” Abela insisted. 

Challenges remain for local operators

The global shipping industry has reported that the situation is gradually returning to normal following years of container shortages and port delays sparked by Brexit and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic that caused a historic spike in shipping costs. 

But local operators said on Saturday that they were not benefiting from the...