Starting January 1, the Terminal Handling Charge or THC for a 20 foot container goes up from 115 dollars to 155 dollars, while 40 foot container costs 32 percent more at 245 dollars, the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said Friday.
A 45 foot dry cargo container now costs 295 dollars.
"Time and again shippers have pointed out that this is a totally unconscionable and illegal charge and an anti-competitive practice resorted to by carriers to maintain their freight rates and avoid competition," JAAF, an apex body of the apparel industry said.
Over 50 percent of the island's export earnings come from the 2.7 billion dollar garment industry, which has carved out a niche to turn out top quality apparel and exotic lingerie in quick time.
Faced with regional competition and out priced by giants like China and India, Sri Lanka’s is under tremendous pressure to cut costs and is now falling behind in the global race, with exports to the US, dropping one percent as at end September