Rising Port Fees Threaten to Push Up Food Bills

A Jersey retailer has warned that grocery prices could come under renewed pressure after shipping companies confirmed that port dues will now be charged to importers in addition to existing flat-rate fees.

DFDS Jersey Route Director Chris Parker said the company had covered the cost of port dues for the past nine months after a technical issue meant they were not being applied. However, from this month, those charges will be passed on to importers.

Concerns over rising costs are not new. Supermarket representatives told politicians last October that flat-rate port charges were already contributing to higher food prices on the island.

The Channel Islands Co-operative said it was doing all it could to shield customers from further increases. A spokesperson said the retailer was “working tirelessly to offset price inflation and keep everyday essentials affordable,” but warned that any additional charges would make that task more difficult.

“Further price rises or new costs would place even more strain on our ability to protect prices for our members and customers,” the spokesperson added.

Carl Walker, chief executive of Jersey’s Consumer Council, described the situation as disappointing for island residents.

“Unfortunately, what we are likely to see is food becoming more expensive yet again,” he said. “That’s not just because of the wider cost-of-living pressures, but now also due to this adjustment in how charges are applied.

“We can only hope prices eventually stabilise, but there is no quick fix.”

A DFDS spokesperson said freight forwarders and customers had been informed that port dues would be applied from mid-January, bringing the company’s charging structure back in line with standard industry practice.

“Port dues are statutory charges set by ports and passed on to users; they are not discretionary increases introduced by DFDS,” the spokesperson said. “As the charge is applied per unit, the impact will vary depending on individual customer volumes.”