Is there more to the 'Big 3' alliance than meets the eye?

THE world's three largest shipping lines, Maersk Line, MSC and CMA CGM, issued a joint statement earlier this week announcing a "long-term operational alliance on East-West trades, called the P3 Network", in a bid to improve customer service and operational efficiency.
But while improved customer service and a desire to increase efficiency are admirable goals, one cannot ignore the potential impact that this move could make in the wider container shipping industry. Nor can one ignore the regulatory interest that will be aroused accompanying this news. ...>More

How Carrefour's China sourcing paid off

FRENCH retailer Carrefour had a plan for a promotion in its European outlets to sell a range of products all for one euro apiece.
The operation would involve shipping 27 million pieces from China to be eventually distributed to stores in 30 countries throughout Europe. This presented a massive logistics challenge.
They had no idea how to do it.  
It all started with the company's marketing team presenting the global sourcing division with its promotion proposal. The promotion in itself was nothing out of the ordinary. A number of retailers big and small have similar promotions the world over. What makes Carrefour's case different was that most companies that do this source the items domestically...  >More

MSC's move to all in rates an ominous sign for carriers?

OVER the years we have witnessed a number of peculiar moves by the shipping lines. However, typically when we speak of peculiar moves in the container shipping industry, this does not necessarily mean surprising moves at all.
Rather, one comes to expect the unexpected in this industry as shipping lines defy logic in the running of their operations on a daily basis.
For one, the lines order tonnage en masse when it is clear that shipping demand will not be able to match it. Carriers have also shown a proclivity to chase market share by lowering rates to unsustainable levels, even if it means losing pots of money.... >More

It pays to be big in container shipping these days

BIG is beautiful in the container shipping sector. At least that's what many industry insiders today are saying.
Regardless of where one stands on the issue of whether size matters in the shipping industry or not, the results are hard to ignore. If we look at operating profits alone, it would appear that bigger is better...
Maersk Line, the world's largest shipping line, and CMA CGM, the world's third largest, topped all carriers in their financial performance for the first quarter of the year.... >More