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Growing pushback against more liner consolidation a threat to Hapag-Zim deal

Forwarders have backed the objections of Brazilian authorities and Israeli legislators in questioning the looming Hapag-Lloyd acquisition of Zim, seeking pushback against more consolidation within liner shipping. Having seen its board and shareholders vote overwhelmingly (97.3%) in favour of the sale to the German half of the Gemini Cooperation in May, Zim has seen growing opposition to the $4.5bn deal - authorities in Brazil the latest to step in. Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade) will conduct a "full form review" of the deal after determining that the combined market share on certain routes would be in breach of its rules on market monopolisation. Alphaliner noted: "The full review was triggered by the overlapping operations on three key long haul routes: West Coast South America-East Coast South America; Central America and Caribbean-East Coast South America; and North America-East Coast South America." Consequently, any hopes of seeing the acquisition signed off imminently are in doubt, with Cade able to pursue its review up to 31 March 2027 - and there are reports that the Israeli government will also oppose the transaction, which could prove terminal. This is because of the so-called "golden share" the Israel state holds over Zim, seeing the carrier as "an asset of strategic national importance", which empowers the government to veto a sale of any stock exceeding a 24% share. But efforts to bring Tel Aviv on board have been relentless, Hapag-Lloyd bringing Israeli financial institution, FIMI Opportunity Funds, in on the deal and revising proposals to include a carve-out for a debt-free 'new Zim' that would operate 16 Israel-flagged ships. Revisions also include guarantees on jobs that would be supported by creation of a regional Israel division, staffed by several hundred people, and a technology centre based in domestically, employing some 300. Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen remains bullish, noting that while "there's all kinds of stuff" about the deal in the press, the team were continuing to "work diligently with the various authorities that we need to work with". He added that "we still expect to close the transaction somewhere towards the end of the year", despite reports that five of the eight Israel authorities required to pass the deal were opposed to it - Agriculture, Defence, Economy, Finance, and Shipping and Ports. Forwarders seemingly share their scepticism, venting their frustration to The Loadstar over the ongoing consolidation of the liner shipping sector - one active in the trades noting: "These deals are bad news for customers, plain and simple."

Walmart tightens grip on the first mile - suppliers' optionality is the price

In a nutshell: Bentonville's new 'Prepaid Consolidation' program, announced earlier this year, promised lower costs and simpler shipping. The trade-off now is that once you're inside Walmart's network, you may never leave it. For most of the past two decades, Walmart's relationship with its prepaid suppliers rested on a simple bargain: you arrange the truck, you pick the carrier, you get the freight to our distribution center (DC) on time, and we will charge you 3% of cost of ...

Industry stalwart Krems to retire as United Cargo president

United Cargo president Jan Krems will retire from the role at the end of September to be replaced by Chris Busch. Industry stalwart Krems has worked in aviation and cargo for more than four decades and has been president of cargo at United Airlines for more than 12 years. Prior to his role at United, Krems spent around 20 years in various roles at KLM and Air France KLM Martinair, including vice president for the Americas region. In a note to industry colleagues, Krems said he had been proud of what the United Cargo team had achieved during his time at the company. "We strengthened United Cargo's commercial performance, expanded our global reach, advanced innovation, and deepened our commitment to customers around the world. "During the Covid pandemic, we were the first carrier to operate cargo-only flights on passenger aircraft and flew over 17,000 cargo-only flights that helped United endure during an unprecedented time in history. "We have positioned United Cargo as a leader in the industry, with revenue performance two times our nearest US competitor. "I want to sincerely express my thanks for all that we have shared over the years. I could not have had this incredible career in air cargo without your partnership, support, and friendship." In 2025, Krems was inducted into the TIACA Hall of Fame as he was recognised for his "outstanding leadership", "unwavering focus" on the customer experience, and "continuous drive for innovation". "Under his direction, United Cargo has emerged as the largest U.S. combination carrier by air cargo volume -- a testament to his strategic vision and relentless pursuit of excellence," TIACA said. Meanwhile, Busch is currently vice president at United Cargo - a role he has held for the past seven years. He joined United Cargo in 2007 and has held roles covering operations and revenue management before taking on the vice president role in 2019. In his new role, Busch will lead United Cargo's global organisation, overseeing sales and marketing, revenue management, customer service, operational performance, product development and technology initiatives worldwide. "Chris is a highly regarded leader with deep knowledge of our business, strong industry relationships, and a proven track record of delivering results," said Krems. "Over the past 19 years at United, he has led commercial growth across the Americas region while helping strengthen operational performance and customer partnerships. "I am confident that Chris is the right leader to build on the strong foundation we have created and that he will successfully guide United Cargo through its next chapter."