Danish shipping giant and the world's No.1 container line, Maersk, is to hike US-India rates, according to shipping industry sources.

Effective June 1, the east-bound rates from the US to ports in the Indian subcontinent will be up $120 per TEU, $150 per FEU and $190 per 45-ft container.

The increased rates will also apply to shipments to Red Sea and West Asian ports, it is learnt.

Only a few days ago, Maersk had announced a general rate increase of $250 per TEU from June 1 on all Asia-Europe routes (i.e west-bound trade), indicating that the increased rates will apply to all dry and reefer cargo moving from Asian ports all destinations in North Europe and the Mediterranean. In March also, the shipping line had announced freight increases.

Meanwhile, other European container operators too have announced freight increases on west-bound routes.

Thus CMA-CGM, France's number one and the world's number three container line, has announced a rate increase of $225 per TEU from June 1 on Asia-North Europe routes. The revised rates will apply to shipments from all ports in Asia.

Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company has announced its plan to implement a freight increase of $100 per TEU from May 16 on India-East Africa route, the sources add.