The US Federal Maritime Commission has issued letters to the three global carrier alliances (2M, THE, and OCEAN) requiring that certain carrier-specific trade data currently filed with the Commission quarterly, must now be submitted on a monthly basis.
This decision follows an announcement by FMC that it was opening an investigation into the tactics on container fees and challenges.
The Commission’s Bureau of Trade Analysis (BTA) has traditionally relied on a combination of individual vessel operator data and commercially available industry data to monitor container carrier freight rates and service market trends.
However, the Commission’s BTA has now determined that given recent fluctuations in the markets, they need to receive key trade data directly from alliance carriers on a more frequent basis, in order to better position staff economists to timely evaluate changes in the transpacific and transatlantic trades and report findings to the Commission.
In addition, a core function of the FMC is the monitoring of ocean carrier alliance agreements filed with the agency. That information is carefully analyzed, along with other information that permits FMC staff, in order to determine trends in the marketplace and the potential for illegal behavior.
The FMC prioritizes its continuous monitoring of the 300 plus cooperative agreements currently filed with the Commission. The three major global carrier alliances are the top priority, because they receive the highest scrutiny.
These three agreements have the greatest potential to cause or facilitate adverse market effects based on the agreement’s authority and geographic scope in combination with underlying market conditions,
…FMC said.
If we detect any indication of carrier behavior that may violate the Shipping Act’s section 6(g) competition standard, we will immediately seek to address these concerns with direct carrier discussions. If necessary, the FMC will go to federal court to seek an injunction to enjoin further operation of the alliance agreement,
…Chairman Khouri stated.
