Maersk: 2M Alliance at 32 pct Asia-Europe Share

An alliance between A.P. Moller-Maersk and MSC Mediterranean Shipping would give the two top container shipping companies a 32 percent market share on Asia-Europe trade routes, the Danish company said on Thursday.

Maersk said that in its self-assessment to EU regulators it had concluded the alliance complied with EU competition law.

A market share above 30 percent would trigger a regulatory review. But, although the Asia-Europe routes are by far the world's busiest, vessels leaving EU waters on transatlantic routes would also be counted into the overall 30 percent mark.

Reporting by Sabina Zawadzki