South African regulator approves Maersk’s Hamburg Süd deal

© Anna Krasnopeeva

South Africa’s competition authority has given the nod to Maersk’s takeover of Hamburg Süd – so long as the German line withdraws from the SAAF vessel-sharing agreement on the South Africa-east coast South America trade. Maersk said that Hamburg Süd would remain active on the trade, but as part of the combined lines’ network. Brazilian authorities approved the deal last week, but China, Korea and Chile have yet to sign it off. The lines hope the deal will be complete by the end of the year, reports World Maritime News.