CMA CGM Group announced the start of the shipping industry’s first Early Container Return Incentive Program at the FMS terminal in Los Angeles and all CMA CGM return locations in Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City and Memphis in the United States.
The programme is expected to run from 16 May to 15 July 2022 aiming to help accelerate the return of empty containers and ensure that US exporters have even greater access to equipment.
It is important to mention that around 43,000 dry containers are expected to put into operation within four days from the receipt on 16 May or later.
Details of the programme include:
- A credit of US$300 per dry container returned to eligible locations during calendar days 1–4.
- Calculation of incentive credits on a weekly basis with a credit memo issued every 14 days to each applicable importer of record (consignee listed on the Bill of Lading).
- Utilisation of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transaction data to assess credit, thus no additional documentation is required from customers.
This new action is the second incentive programme implemented by the French ocean carrier in the US, after the Early Container Pickup Incentive Program launched by the company in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach at the end of 2021.
Ed Aldridge, president of CMA CGM and APL North America, said, “Our new programme will result in an incentive credit for our importers, improve equipment availability for our exporters and expedite the flow of goods into and out of America’s heartland.”
CMA CGM was the first to freeze spot prices and also implemented a programme to encourage the early pickup of containers, which resulted in a 73% reduction in CMA CGM containers for nine days in Southern California.
In March, the Group dedicated ship tonnage to small and medium-sized enterprises in both Europe and North America at prices typically only available on high-volume shippers.
In addition, the Marseille-based box line works with industry associations such as the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) to develop personalised, market-based solutions to ensure greater reliability and predictability for US exporters.
