Matson Navigation Co. is lowering its fuel surcharge for the second time in a row, representing a $100 to $150 reduction in shipping costs per container from the West Coast to Hawaii.
The state’s largest ocean shipper is cutting the fuel surcharge by 3.75 percentage points, to 21.75 percent from 25.5 percent, effective Sept. 12.
Besides a recent decline in bunker fuel prices, Matson operates a nine-ship fleet, down from a 10- to 11-ship fleet several years ago, resulting in container ships that are more than 90 percent full and thereby collectively burn less fuel, according to Matson spokesman Jeff Hull.