Matson Lowers Fuel Surcharge by 3.5%

Matson Navigation Co. has reduced its fuel surcharge by 3.5% for shipping to Hawaii and to Guam and Micronesia, the shipping company announced today.

Matson officials said the decrease, which will take effect on Sunday, is the result of declining bunker fuel prices.

The reduction drops the surcharge to 42% from 45.5% for its Hawaii service, and to 38.5% from 42% for Guam and related areas.

The result will be a savings of $80 to $140 in shipping cost per container, said Dave Hoppes, senior vice president of ocean services.

The last change in the surcharge for the Hawaii service was a 5% increase in February. Company officials said there were three decreases in 2011.

The departure of a competitor and the resulting increase in freight volume for Guam and Micronesia services meant that no surcharge increase was necessary there last year. This decrease is the fourth consecutive drop in the surcharge for those services, the company said.

The surcharge was first implemented in 1999.