Maersk Line won EU antitrust approval on Monday for its buy out of Hamburg Sud having committed to pull the German company out from five consortia on trade routes to address competition concerns.
Hamburg Sud will withdraw from the consortia on trade routes connecting northern Europe to central America, the west coast of South America and the Middle East.
The German company will also exit vessel sharing agreements connecting the Mediterranean to the west coast of South America and the east coast of South America.
“The commitments offered by Maersk Line and [Hamburg Sud] will maintain a healthy level of competition to the benefit of the very many EU companies that depend on these container shipping services,” European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said.
