Following a series of shipping company mergers, by April 2018, the 7 largest shipping companies will control more than 65% of global capacity. The most recent mergers have become vital to a number of medium-sized companies. Indeed, economies of scale due to low marginal costs have allowed the “big three” (Maersk Line, MSC and CMA CGM) to impose pressure on prices that have become, for many, too much to bear.
In 10 years, the number of shipping companies will have halved, in favour of more stable, healthier associations. In the future, both price volatility and the risk of supply chain disruption should be reduced
Source : Voice of the independent, Novembre 2016