Water

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 3/1/1999

The price index for water transportation services remained unchanged from December 1998 to January 1999. But compared with January 1998, average rates for maritime services are up 2.9%. The trouble for shippers remains inbound ocean liner rates, which rose 8.7% from year-ago levels. After some rough seas in the first half of 1999, rates for water transportation are forecast to rise only 0.4% by the end of the year.

% CHANGE VS.: 1 month ago 6 mos. ago 1 yr. ago

Inbound liner +1.0 -8.0 +8.7

Outbound liner +0.1 -5.9 -2.5

Domestic deep sea -0.9 +0.8 +3.2

Grt. Lks.-St. Lawrence +0.2 +0.2 +0.5

Mississippi River -2.7 -0.1 +5.2