P3’s positive prognosis

22/11/2013

Amazing how an alliteration makes one smile – here is the lowdown on the possibility of the proposed P3 partners’ plans (see what we did there?) for promulgating permission (stop it!) from regulators in the US, China and Europe. Given the time difference (the article is by US-based journalist Peter Tirschwell), what amazing serendipity that it should be published shortly before the European Commission announced its formal investigation into more than a dozen lines suspected of colluding over freight rate increases. Nevertheless, Mr Tirschwell, a veteran transportation writer at the Journal of Commerce, offers a convincing analysis of why he expects to see Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM’s proposals be given the green light.

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Lou Roll
November 22, 2013 at 3:33 pm
On the P3 project, most if not all comments have so far been on the market aspect, vis a vis customers, i.e. shippers and forwarders, with the P3 project potentially reinforcing a trend whereby container shipping supply could move progressively towards an oligopoly.

But one also needs to consider the other side of the equation, the supplier aspect, i.e. how the P3 project may work towards building up an oligopsony of large and cooperating buyers versus providers of key products and services, such as fuel, ports and terminals, container repair, road and rail transportation in given ports and hinterland markets.

One would assume that regulators would also look at this aspect.

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