EN Case No COMP/M.7268 - CSAV/ HGV/ KÜHNE MARITIME/ HAPAG-LLOYD AG Only the English text is available and authentic. REGULATION (EC) No 139/2004 MERGER PROCEDURE Article 6(1)(b) in conjunction with Art 6(2) Date: 11/09/2014 In electronic form on the EUR-Lex website under document number 32014M7268 Office for Publications of the European Union L-2985 Luxembourg EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 11.9.2014 C(2014) 6504 final In the published version of this decision, some infor- PUBLIC VERSION mation has been omitted pursuant to Article 17(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 concerning non-disclosure of business secrets and other confiden- MERGER PROCEDURE tial information. The omissions are shown thus […]. Where possible the information omitted has been re- placed by ranges of figures or a general description. To the notifying parties: Commission européenne, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Bruxelles, BELGIQUE Europese Commissie, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Brussel, BELGIË Tel: +32 229-91111. Fax: +32 229-64301. E-mail: [email protected]. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. THE PARTIES ........................................................................................................................ 5 II. THE OPERATION .................................................................................................................. 6 III. CONCENTRATION ............................................................................................................... 6 IV. EU DIMENSION .................................................................................................................... 6 V. MARKET DEFINITION ......................................................................................................... 7 V.1. The market for container liner shipping services .......................................................... 7 V.1.1. Product market ............................................................................................... 7 V.1.2. Geographic market ........................................................................................ 9 V.2. Other product markets ................................................................................................ 11 V.2.1. Container terminal services ......................................................................... 11 V.2.2. Freight forwarding ....................................................................................... 11 V.2.3. Inland transportation .................................................................................... 12 V.2.4. Harbour towage services ............................................................................. 13 VI. COMPETITIVE ASSESSMENT .......................................................................................... 13 VI.1. Introduction................................................................................................................. 13 VI.1.1. Slot charter agreements, consortia, and alliances ........................................ 13 VI.1.2. Market share calculation and data availability ............................................ 16 VI.1.3. Assessment framework ................................................................................ 17 VI.1.4. Assessment criteria ...................................................................................... 20 VI.2. Horizontal overlaps (trade-by-trade assessment) ........................................................ 21 VI.2.1. The view of the Parties ................................................................................ 21 VI.2.2. Overview of overlapping trades .................................................................. 21 VI.2.3. Northern Europe–North America (NE–NA) ............................................... 22 VI.2.3.1. Description of the trade .............................................................. 22 VI.2.3.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 25 VI.2.3.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 26 VI.2.4. Northern Europe–Central America and Caribbean (NE–CAC) .................. 26 VI.2.4.1. Description of the trade .............................................................. 26 VI.2.4.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 27 VI.2.4.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 28 VI.2.5. Northern Europe–South America East Coast (NE–SAEC) ......................... 28 VI.2.5.1. Description of the trade .............................................................. 28 VI.2.5.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 30 VI.2.5.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 30 VI.2.6. Northern Europe–South America West Coast (NE–SAWC) ...................... 30 VI.2.6.1. Description of the trade .............................................................. 30 VI.2.6.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 31 VI.2.6.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 33 2 VI.2.7. Mediterranean-Central America and Caribbean (MED–CAC) ................... 33 VI.2.7.1. Description of the trade .............................................................. 33 VI.2.7.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 34 VI.2.7.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 35 VI.2.8. Mediterranean-South America West Coast (MED–SAWC) ....................... 35 VI.2.8.1. Description of the trade .............................................................. 35 VI.2.8.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 36 VI.2.8.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 37 VI.2.9. Northern Europe – Indian Subcontinent and Middle East (NE–ISME) ...... 37 VI.2.9.1. Description of the trade .............................................................. 37 VI.2.9.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 38 VI.2.9.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 39 VI.2.10. Mediterranean-Indian Subcontinent and Middle East (MED–ISME) ......... 39 VI.2.10.1. Description of the trade .............................................................. 39 VI.2.10.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 40 VI.2.10.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 41 VI.2.11. Mediterranean-Far East (MED–FE) ............................................................ 41 VI.2.11.1. Description of the trade .............................................................. 41 VI.2.11.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 42 VI.2.11.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 42 VI.3. Vertical relationships .................................................................................................. 42 VI.3.1. Container terminal services ......................................................................... 43 VI.3.1.1. Parties' view ............................................................................... 43 VI.3.1.2. Results of the market investigation ............................................ 44 VI.3.1.3. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 44 VI.3.1.4. Conclusion ................................................................................. 45 VI.3.2. Freight forwarding ....................................................................................... 45 VI.3.2.1. Parties' view ............................................................................... 45 VI.3.2.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 46 VI.3.2.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 46 VI.3.3. Inland transportation .................................................................................... 46 VI.3.3.1. Parties' view ............................................................................... 46 VI.3.3.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 47 VI.3.3.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 47 VI.3.4. Harbour towage services ............................................................................. 47 VI.3.4.1. Parties' view ............................................................................... 48 VI.3.4.2. Commission's assessment .......................................................... 48 VI.3.4.3. Conclusion ................................................................................. 48 VI.4. Conclusion on competitive assessment ....................................................................... 48 VII. COMMITMENTS ................................................................................................................. 49 VII.1. Commitments submitted by the Parties ...................................................................... 49 VII.1.1. Procedure 49 3 VII.1.2. Description of the