Danish container shipping company Maersk Line considers that the operating agreements it has in place with other carriers liner seafarers will continue to comply with the general antitrust of the European Union even after 25 April, when the current European exemption regulation for category for liner shipping companies (CBER), a rule that the European Commission decided not to extend last month ( el 10 October 2023). In a communication to customers today, explaining that prior to that date, all the operational arrangements of the Maersk covering the European market and currently falling under the within the scope of the CBER will be subject to a assessment of conformity with European standards on competition, the Danish company has highlighted that it believes that 'These assessments will confirm the continuation of these operational arrangements beyond the expiry of the CBER'.

Evidently, this provision includes the services that Maersk, which is the world's second-largest shipping carrier by capacity of the container fleet, currently operates in collaboration with the with the Swiss MSC, which is the world's leading carrier of the market, as part of the 2M alliance that the two companies have in 2014 and which became operational at the beginning of the of the following year ( of 9 October 2014), cooperation that earlier this year Maersk and MSC have decided to cease in early 2025 ( of 25 January 2023).

Maersk recalled that the regulation currently in force exempts operating agreements between liner companies that cover market shares of less than 30% from being subject to a valuation under general EU antitrust laws, exemption that will expire on 25 April, while the Operating arrangements with coverage above this threshold shall not will be subject to change as they are already subject to this evaluation.

In addition, Maersk has reassured customers that the deadline of the CBER regulation will not impact their supply chains and that if there are any changes - the company specified - will be communicated promptly.