Greater ChinaOperations

Japan’s big three lines facing more car carrier investigations

Beijing: Japan’s big three shipping lines face more headaches from a spiralling car carrier price fixing row. Bloomberg is reporting Beijing is now investigating the trio – Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) – for their alleged price fixing. The three lines control a majority of the Chinese market.

Car carrier companies have faced a string of similar investigations around the world in recent years, including in the EU, Japan, Canada and the US.

Beijing’s National Development and Reform Commission is understood to be looking at the Japanese trio’s “monopolistic” position related to the Chinese car market.

None of the three lines has acknowledged this latest investigation.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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