Matson Navigation Co. is planning to boost its westbound shipping rates and terminal handling fee for Hawaii by $295 — the highest combined charge in at least a decade — adding another cost increase for businesses already struggling in the ailing state economy.

But that increase is being partly offset by Matson's sixth consecutive fuel-surcharge decrease.

The state's largest ocean carrier said yesterday that shipping fees will rise by an average 3.9 percent for Hawaii, or $120 per westbound container and $60 per eastbound container, on Jan. 4. It is Matson's highest percentage increase since 2006.

In addition, the company plans to raise its terminal handling fee — which comprises about 40 percent of Matson's operating expenses — by $175 per westbound container and $90 per eastbound container on the same day.

Today, though, Matson announced that it was lowering its fuel surcharge by 4.5 percentage points for its Hawaii service to 15 percent from 19.5 percent. It also said it will lower its fuel surcharge for its Guam/Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Micronesia service by 4.5 percentage points to 16.5 percent from 21 percent. The lower surcharges are effective Sunday. For most customers, this latest decrease represents a reduction in shipping costs ranging from $110 to $170 per container.

Meanwhile, local small businesses have identified shipping and transportation as one of their top concerns, according to Melissa Pavlicek, Hawaii state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, which represents about 1,200 small businesses in Hawaii.

“;So anything that does more to exacerbate the problem will be bad for small business and bad for the economy,”; she said.

Matson spokesman Jeff Hull said yesterday that the money from Matson's general rate increase is reinvested into the business, while the terminal handling fee is used to offset increases in terminal operations, including labor, and support ongoing investments in its Hawaii operations.

“;So they're kind of extraordinary costs that are beyond our control,”; he said.

For a 40-foot container with 12-ounce aluminum cans totaling 51,744, the combined increase amounts to six-tenths of a cent per can. For the same container carrying 24,000 heads of lettuce, the combined rate hike comes out to 1.2 cents per head, he said.

“;Matson continues to absorb most of the costs associated with terminal operations ... but needs to pass on some of the increased expenses to our customers,”; said Dave Hoppes, Matson's senior vice president of ocean services.

The rate hike is consistent with the company's philosophy of passing along modest, incremental increases as necessary, he said.

“;Given the essential role ocean transportation has in supporting the state's economic activities, Matson's primary business objective remains focused on ensuring the company's services are among the best in the world,”; Hoppes said.

Since 2003, the ocean shipper has invested nearly $600 million in fleet enhancements, including more than $500 million for the building of four new container ships.

Other ongoing initiatives include purchasing new container equipment and upgrading technology, its neighbor island fleet and terminal facilities.

In contrast, Matson lowered its fuel surcharge six consecutive times in less than two months for shipments between the mainland and Hawaii, reflecting an ongoing decline in bunker fuel prices.

Including the latest adjustment, Matson will have lowered its fuel surcharge by 27.25 percentage points since Sept. 20.

The lower surcharges followed nine consective increases.