Freight costs go up as container shortage persists

Sea freight charges have doubled in the past one month due to a global shortage of containers as players in the logistic sector urge ports management in East Africa to increase empty container limitations at their facilities to allow more containers to be shipped back.

Shipping agents and Container Freight Stations (CFSs) officials said the cost of importing a 20ft container from China to East African ports has risen from $1,500 to $2,500 while that of 40ft container doubled from $2,000 to $4,000.