Possible shipping merger ‘big issue’ for NZ freight

A possible merger between shipping companies Maersk Sealand and P&O Nedlloyd could have big ramifications for the movement of goods to and from New Zealand. The shipping companies collectively carry about 80 per cent of Fonterra’s ocean freight and 40 per cent of the national freight, analysts estimate. Fonterra – New Zealand’s biggest business – spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year on ocean freight and in the past few years has developed two main partnerships – one with Maersk Sealand, the other with P&O Nedlloyd.