A removal of the exemption for container shipping alliances from U.S. antitrust law may have inched closer. At a hearing of the U.S. House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee on May 3, Congressman John Garamendi stated the current law is “not up to date”, American Shipper reports. This is part of a protracted process of investigation that started gathering steam at the April 4 meeting. As outlined in Panjiva research of April 6 the Federal Maritime Commission does not believe the container-liner industry is heavily consolidate, even allowing for alliances.

It isn’t clear whether there is room in the current legislative agenda for a change in the law. An ongoing Department of Justice investigation into the container-liner industry further complicates the issue. Panjiva data shows that, in aggregate, the three big alliances accounted for 51.6% of U.S. inbound-volumes over the past 12 months allowing for mergers that have already been announced.

Chart segments U.S. inbound volumes by carrier, arranged by alliance and showing impact of acquisitions separate from organic gains or losses in market share in 12 months to March 31 vs. 2015. Source: Panjiva