South Africa's antitrust authority has brought a price-fixing case against some of the biggest global shipping companies, including A.P. Moller-Maersk and CMA CGM, to a tribunal for legal action.

These companies are accused of fixing the general rate increase for shipping cargo between South Africa and Asia, as well as between South Africa and western Africa, from 2008 to 2018, which goes against local antitrust laws, according to a statement from the Competition Commission.

Commissioner Doris Tshepe stated, “Breaking up this cartel will lower the price of goods imported to South Africa, benefiting consumers. It will also cut export costs, making South African products more competitive in global markets.”

The investigation revealed that the shipping companies applied the same rate increase for routes from Shanghai, Ningbo, and Shekou to Durban as they did for routes from Durban to Hong Kong and from Qingdao to Durban.

Other companies involved in the case include local branches of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co., Pacific International Lines, Mitsui OSK Lines, Cosco Shipping Holdings, Evergreen Marine, and K Line Shipping.