Stena reverses on rates
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• P&O Stena Line has said it will after all increase fares for hauliers on three of its major Continental routes next year just days after it told CM that there would be no price hike (CM 15-21 Oct).
Last week Seafrance announced plans to increase its freight rates. Both companies blame the higher fares on the abolition of duty-free EU sales next January which is expected to halve their income.
P&O Stena's Dover-Calais, Dover-Zeebrugge and Newhaven-Dieppe RO-R() services will be hit by the increase. The fare for accompanied vehicles of 15-18m and unaccompanied trailers/containers of 12-13.6m will rise by £25.
A P&O spokesman says the price rise is designed to "combat a decline in cross-Channel freight rates of approximately 50% since 1993". The company also expects to "lose a considerable amount" when the dui free system ends.