THE AP Moller-Maersk group – owner of the world’s largest ocean carrier, Maersk Line – is forecasting that its container shipping business will post a loss of R4.3-billion for the 2006 financial year. The hefty loss is partly due to a 6% drop in freight rates in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period a year ago, and a 35% rise in fuel expenses per tonne in the same period. This is despite expectations that container volumes will increase about 10% in the second half of the year.
