JOC - Australian shipping industry blames congestion for record rates amid probe

A recent survey of members by Australia's Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) found exporters were likely paying billions of dollars in extra post-pandemic shipping and logistics costs, including compensation claims for late deliveries on top of higher freight and equipment costs.

"We do not want government interfering with price setting as we need internationally owned shipping lines to be incentivized to continue to service Australian trade in a free and open market," said Paul Zalai, director of both the FTA and the Global Shippers Forum. "We do, however, see merit in a review to examine whether shipping line vessel-sharing arrangements should be conducted in line with competition laws faced by others in Australian commerce."