As more and more shipping lines encroach on forwarder territory, pushing an end-to-end logistics strategy, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders (Fiata) has called for competition authorities to pay special attention to these developments to ensure all stakeholders compete on a level playing field and that competition is fair.
But in order to argue its case it needs samples and proof that can be collated to use as evidence.
It has therefore called on its members to provide feedback on market developments and shipping line practices that are considered to be unfair.
The organisation has given its assurance that all contributions will be kept absolutely confidential.
“The maritime supply chain continues to see record disruptions, unpredictability, and sky-high freight rates. Despite being key to being able to find solutions in the supply chain across the modes of transport, freight forwarders have been faced with moves by certain shipping line carriers to cut or restrict their access to services,” says Fiata.
“2020 and 2021 were very profitable years for shipping lines, which allowed them to invest to expand into services traditionally offered by the freight forwarding industry, with ambitions to become vertically integrated providers of door-to-door logistics solutions. Some shipping lines have also recently invested in logistics companies in line with this objective. Fiata addressed this on various occasions well before the pandemic, underlining that competition must take place on the same, fair, level playing field.”
The organisation points out that shipping lines are now competing head on with the freight forwarding industry with unfair competitive advantages through their role as vessel and container owning carrier.
“Marketplaces become less efficient when entities have the power to levy unreasonable charges on their competition," says Fiata.
Use the below format and send it to maritime@fiata.org.
