Matson lowers fuel surcharge

Matson Inc., the state’s largest ocean shipper, is lowering its fuel surcharge for Hawaii and other Pacific islands by 4 percentage points as bunker fuel prices continue to drop.

The fuel surcharge for Hawaii will be reduced to 31.5 percent from 35.5 percent, to 32 percent from 36 percent for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mari­ana Islands, and to 37 percent from 41 percent for Micronesia.

The change, which takes effect Sunday, is the third consecutive reduction and is the lowest since February 2011.

"We are pleased to be able to make another downward adjustment to our fuel surcharge, which for most customers represents a reduction in shipping costs ranging from $80 to $140 per container," Dave Hoppes, Matson’s senior vice president for ocean services, said in a press release. "With this latest reduction, our fuel surcharge for those services will have dropped 11 percentage points since Nov. 2. We continue to be encouraged by the recent moderation in bunker fuel prices and remain focused on diligently exploring ways in which we can maximize fuel efficiency for our fleet."

Rob Jones, store manager of Hardware Hawaii in Mapuna­puna, said the temporary decrease in fuel surcharge is offset by the other costs of doing business that are increasing.

"But any small savings helps," he said, noting that the store receives shipments once a week. "It’s probably going to be offset by property taxes. The gas prices should be way lower than what they are with the price of oil at $50 a barrel, compared to $100. It usually takes a couple months to adjust, so maybe it is still coming."