Limits of consolidation

摘要

The Caribbean, at the crossroads of so many container routes, offers a unique window on consolidation. Maersk Line's strategy here is particularly revealing, showing both the advantages and limitations of scale.On one hand, Maersk is pursuing the 2M vessel-sharing agreement with Mediterranean Shipping to create a leviathan on the east-west trades that will initially transit Suez, not the Panama Canal.On the other hand, Maersk openly admits that despite being the largest shipping company in the world, it is failing to properly serve its north-south and intra-regional customers in the Americas. To attain the necessary agility and flexibility, it is launching a specialised affiliate, SeaLand, to provide the personal touch.