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Maersk hit with anti-competition allegations in Mumbai

The Indian Competition Review, a policy advisory organisation, has sent a complaint to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), claiming that Denmark’s AP Moller Maersk Group is using its “dominant position” at Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai’s leading port, to dictate prices by limiting competition in the container freight station (CFS) market. The Danish company has since denied it is doing anything wrong in Mumbai.

Maersk subsidiary APM Terminals has a terminal at the port, Gateway Terminals India Pvt Ltd (GTIPL).

“Vessels wanting a berth at GTIPL are being coerced by APM Terminal Mumbai, which operates GTIPL, to obtain its CFS services or services by its select partners operating at JN Port. Vessels wanting to berth at GTIPL in future …..are also coerced by APM Terminal Mumbai to obtain CFS service by one of the two Maersk CFS or two more, with which the firm has tie ups,” the policy advisory firm has claimed.

The Danish firm also diverts shipping lines to a private port operated by the group at Pipavav, APM Terminals Pipavav, where the tariffs are not regulated, ICR has alleged.

“We comply with all applicable Indian laws, rules and regulations. We have not received any formal notice or communication from the Competition Commission of India and we do not comment on rumours or unconfirmed reports,” a spokesperson for APM Terminals told Splash.

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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