MEDITERRANEAN FAR EAST CONFERENCE INCREASES RATES

   The shipping lines of the Mediterranean Far East Conference are planning a series of eastbound and westbound rate rises for next year.
   In the strong westbound trade, conference carriers will raise rates by $150 per 20-foot container and $300 per 40-footer on April 1, 2000. This will be followed by increases of $250 per 20-foot box and $500 per 40-foot container on Aug. 1.
   In the traditionally weaker eastbound direction, rates from the Mediterranean to Asia will go up by $150 per 20-foot container and $200 per 40-footer on April 1 and again by the same amounts on Oct. 1.
   The Asia/Mediterranean conference said that the eastbound price increases "are considered the bare minimum to recover a reasonable level of revenues in the eastbound trade."