The global container market is poised to consolidate in the next few years as AP Moller Maersk and other major shippers roll out bigger vessels, potentially forcing smaller rivals to drop out of an already oversupplied market.
Medium-sized container firms warn that a move by the majors to flood the market with mega ships could spark a “rate war” similar to 2009 when the market plummeted and most firms fell into the red in one of the industry’s worst downturns.
Vulnerable container companies are likely to be allowed to fall into bankruptcy instead of being saved by a larger firm through an acquisition, experts said.