South Africa’s Competition Commission has referred a complaint to the Competition Tribunal against eight container carriers accused of alleged price fixing related to general rate increases on services between Chinese ports (including Hong Kong) and Durban over a ten-year period, from 2008 to 2018. The development was reported according to DynaLiners.
The carriers named in the referral — or their South African offices — are (in alphabetical order): CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping Lines, Evergreen, “K” Line, Maersk, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, MSC and Pacific International Lines (PIL).
The Tribunal will review allegations that coordinated pricing practices may have taken place, potentially affecting importers and exporters serving the busy Asia–South Africa trade lane.
No ruling has been issued, and all carriers retain the right to contest the allegations as the case proceeds through the country’s competition law process.
