In a bid to remain the world’s number one container shipping company, particularly in light of recent shipping mergers and acquisitions, Maersk Line has stated that it may be open to the right opportunity, according to Reuters.
Jakob Stausholm, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Maersk Line, said: “If the right opportunity is there we will look into it. If you look at the history of Maersk Line, we have achieved our leadership position by combination of organic growth and acquisitions. It's really tough and everybody in the industry is really suffering, and so have we. We are defending our leadership position. If we are strong, there is no reason for us not to grow.”
An unnamed shipping industry source said: “There is a question over whether China will increasingly use these bigger Chinese lines to ship goods now over Western carriers.”
PTI previously reported that despite tough market conditions, the line was able to see a net profit of more than US$30 million.
Other lines such as Hanjin and Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) have not been so fortunate, after it was recently reported that Hanjin Shipping had had its request for lower charter rates rejected by Seaspan.
This is now anticipated to have an effect on its debt recovery efforts, as well as previous plans to order mega-ships.
Despite these setbacks, THE Alliance has recently said that it backs HMM’s entry into the alliance, with the Korea Development Bank stating that it will take the necessary measures to ensure that HMM is a competitive global shipping line.
