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Hawaii's leading ocean shipper, Matson Navigation Co. has announced that it is decreasing its fuel surcharge for the sixth consecutive time since September 21st.

As a result of continuing declines in bunker prices, the shipping firm has said that it will decrease the surcharge for shipments to Hawaii by 4.5 percentage points from 19.5 percent to 15 percent.

The surcharge for its Guam and Micronesia service will also decrease by 4.5 percentage points from 21 percent to 16.5 percent.

Matson said the lower fuel surcharge would translate into a reduction of between $110 and $170 per container for customers.

The latest surcharge rates are due to come into effect on Sunday November 30th.

Below is a summary of the fuel surcharges announced by Matson since January this year for its Hawaii service.

30/11/2008: 15.00%

16/11/2008: 19.50 %

02/11/2008: 25.00 %

19/10/2008: 27.00 %

12/10/2008: 33.00 %

21/09/2008: 37.50 %

31/08/2008: 42.25 %

13/07/2008: 38.25 %

06/04/2008: 33.75 %

04/02/2008: 31.50 %