Container Lines to Cut Terminal Cost in China
Eleven container liner transportation companies have promised to cut or standardize the Terminal Handling Charges (THC) in order to lower nearly 3.5 billion yuan burden of export enterprises each year, according to National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). According to a report in Shanghai Daily, the shipping companies include China COSCO Shipping Cooperation, Maersk line, Mediterranean shipping, Hapag-Lloyd AG, Evergreen Marine, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Mitsui OSK Lines, Sinotrans Shipping. These companies have written to the NDRC and Ministry of Transport promising in standardize THC by adjusting cost standard. Chinese trading companies "reported" the excessively high and non-transparent surcharges to the NDRC.
Precisely Why China Pulled the Plug on P3
The proposed container ship P3 alliance between the 255-ship fleets of Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. and CMA CGM was turned down by China's Anti-monopoly Bureau at the Ministry of Commerce, because the P3 alliance intended to set up a joint operations centre unlike other traditional shipping alliances. "On June 17, 2014, Ministry of Commerce announced its disapproval after the anti-monopoly investigation in the concentration of undertakings of Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. and CMA CGM establishing an 'Internet' [online operations] center. The large-scale collaboration of the three largest shipping companies in the world will bring profound influence to global shipping industry, and attract high attention from all circles.
