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Shipping firm Matson Navigation Co. has announced that it is lowering its bunker fuel surcharge for shipments between the US mainland and Hawaii.

Matson, Hawaii's largest ocean shipper, said that it will be reducing its fuel charge by 4 percentage points, from 28 percent to 24 percent, for its Hawaii service.

The company will also be cutting its fuel surcharge for shipments to Guam/Micronesia by 4 percentage points from 29.5 percent to 25.5 percent.

The surcharge decreases will take effect from sunday October 4th.

“Matson is very pleased to make this downward adjustment to its fuel surcharge,” said Dave Hoppes, senior vice president, ocean services, in a statement.

“While we were able to make six consecutive decreases in 2008, the trend moved back upward in 2009. Matson has made a practice of giving 30 days notice of rate adjustments, however we are once again passing on this decrease to our customers as soon as possible so that they can quickly realize the benefits of this reduction during this difficult economic environment.”

Hoppes said customers should see a reduction of between $100 and $150 per container.