TAIPEI—Asian shipping companies including Evergreen Marine Corp. started a peak-season charge for routes between Asia and Europe because of strong demand, the Commercial Times reported, citing the Far Eastern Freight Conference.

The charge, to be introduced Monday, will be extended to the end of December, the Taipei-based, Chinese-language newspaper reported. Shipping companies will add a $135 peak-season fee for each 20-foot container, and $270 for each 40-foot container, the report said.

The freight rate between Asia and Europe for a 20-foot container has risen $700 from a year earlier to more than $2,000, the report said. Cargo volume for the route has increased 21 percent in the first half from a year earlier, it said.

Evergreen Marine, based in Taipei, is Taiwan’s biggest shipping company by fleet. (Bloomberg)

THE Bureau of Customs rejected a trucking group’s proposal which would have allowed the release of delivery vehicles caught carrying smuggled or misdeclared goods.

NEW YORK—Bear Stearns Cos.’ private-equity arm took a majority stake in MC Shipping Inc. as part of a deal to buy the entire maritime transportation company for $284 million.

TAIPEI—Asian shipping companies including Evergreen Marine Corp. started a peak-season charge for routes between Asia and Europe because of strong demand, the Commercial Times reported, citing the Far Eastern Freight Conference.

LONDON—Tufton Oceanic Ltd., the world’s biggest shipping hedge fund, aims to expand 40 percent to more than $1 billion by October.