Mergers and alliances have been a feature of the container shipping industry, as liner operators continue to seek the economies of scale that deliver highly efficient and cost- effective services.
The latest phase of consolidation began last year with the acquisition of NOL/APL by CMA CGM. On 18th February, I attended the ceremony in Shanghai for the formation of China Cosco Shipping Group, the new company created by the merger of Cosco and China Shipping.