NYK, MOL and K Line to merge container shipping businesses

Japan’s three major ocean carriers - Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsui OSK Lines and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha - have agreed on Monday October 31st, 2016 to spin off their container divisions and merge them July 1.

The merger is the latest of major moves occurred over the past two years including acquisitions and here below changes in alliances punctuated by the bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping in late August.

The new Japanese Shipping company will become the 6th largest container line.

• Maersk & MSC to set the 2M Alliance
• The merge of China Shipping and COSCO, CMA-CGM taking over APL and making Alliance with Evergreen, OOCL and China/Cosco, altogether planning to set the Ocean Alliance by April 1st, 2017
• Hapag-Lloyd merged with CSAV and soon with UASC with the original plan to set THE Alliance by April 1st, 2017 with NYK and K Line.

N.B. Hamburg Süd, ZIM and ACL still stand alone however both get strong ties and existing slot exchanges with Hapag-Lloyd.

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