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When you think airline handling fees at Christchurch, most people natually think of Air New Zealand Cargo.

But there are actually two ‘cargo handling’ companies on Christchurch Airport that load/unload aircraft and store air-freight.

Air Menzies is the other player and their major airline client is Emirates.

Air New Zealand do the likes of Singapore Airlines.

In an oligopoly situation, rates for products/services tend to remain much the same.

This is no different in this instance, where Air New Zealand and Menzies have very similar cargo-handling tariffs.

Which are moving up shortly (January 2018) 

We’ll need to pass-on these new tariffs.

Brown Marmorated Bugs (colloquially ‘stink bugs’) are being discovered in sea-freight consignments ex Italy.

This is not MPI ‘going over the top’, this is a real biosecurity issue.

Resulting from all these detections, the entire contents of containers ex Italy are being fumigated.

All shipments are lumped together.

This situation also means every container ex Italy will require an extra level of inspection.

Fumigation, re-inspection all come at a cost.

Around an extra NZD 5.00 per cubic metre as well as delays to the deliver time in some cases.

Reminder: Stink Bugs are also a major issue from the U.S as well

Bear with us on this one.

One: All rates ex China are on the way up. The first of what we predict to be several increases ex the whole of Asia has already occurred. This means all LCL and FCL have increased by around 15%. We are in the process of up-dating our Asian LCL Menu and these will go out in the post shortly. For FCL’s call Darron or Paul for a re-quote/quote.

Two: Space is an increasing issue. Full containers now need to be booked at least two weeks before a nominated sailing, to be sure. Often demand exceeds supply and this has led the rates going up. There are also a chronic transport issues in China, not confined to just full container movements. Peak traffic, lack of drivers are common daily concerns with no easy solutions. The more notice you can provide us, the better. We are all going to need to be more patient.

Three: The Chinese New Year this year is between the 15^th Feb and 22^nd Feb. Everything closes! Trying to get a booking with week before the holiday is nigh impossible, given it is the busiest week of the year in terms of demand.