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South Africa: 6 shipping companies raided in collusion probe

By  |  September 28, 2016

South Africa’s Competition Commission searched the premises of six shipping companies including AP Moeller-Maersk A/S as part of an investigation into allegations that they colluded to fix incremental cargo rates between Asia and South Africa.

The antitrust regulator started raids on premises of local operations of Copenhagen-based Maersk and its Safmarine unit, Hamburg Sued Group, Mediterranean Shipping Co., Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd. and CMA CGM SA in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The investigation was triggered by a tip-off from a member of the public, the commission said.

“South Africa is a strategic hub for the trade of goods in and out of the southern African region,” Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele said in the statement. “Any cartel by shipping liners in this region results in inflated prices for cargo transportation.”

Full Content: Bloomberg

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