Increased freight prices will affect Jersey - Condor

Condor says it has been "subjected to significantly above-inflation rises" in the past three years

Increased freight prices will affect both Channel Islands, Condor Ferries has confirmed.

The company said an increase in freight charges of 10% above inflation would be applied because it could no longer absorb price rises from suppliers.

CEO John Napton said the firm had been "subjected to significantly above-inflation rises in some port costs and other fees".

Deputy Kirsten Morel, the Economic Development Minister, asked Condor to justify its increases and to see if there were "alternative approaches".

Mr Napton said the company had absorbed cost increases for the past three years "to minimise the impact" on its customers.

"But latterly, [we] have been subjected to significantly above-inflation rises in some port costs and other fees, which in some cases are between 18% to 35%, along with minimum and living wage increases," he said.

"As with many other businesses, our financial situation was impacted during the pandemic period and during that time we continued to maintain the supply of essential food and medicines to the islands."

Mr Napton said the increase was "regrettable" but that the company had "no choice".

Mr Morel said Jersey and Guernsey depended on sea links and cost increases would affect everyone.

"RPI price rises reflect the cost increases which everyone is facing, and would be expected, but I find it hard to see the justification for price rises which are so significantly above RPI," he said.

"I am asking Condor to justify those price increases and whether there are alternative approaches.”