Global maritime container transport market under the Covid-19 crises; Its evolvement, integration and regulatory challenges

The main research issue refers to the identification and analysis of the key features and trends revealed on the global maritime container transport market in the years 2020-2022, as well as its general assessment in terms of the effects that such a highly concentrated market's supply side can cause for shippers and container shipping operators. The research is aimed at determining the main premises and factors stimulating the consolidation processes of the container shipping operators and ongoing market vertical and horizontal integration, as well as assessing the risks and effects resulting from maintaining the current system of regulation of this oligopolistic market. While conducting this research, the following methods were applied: factor analysis (FA), market analysis (MA) based on statistical data concerning the supply side, as well as desk research (DR), i.e. in-depth analysis of many reports, opinions, bulletins and data issued by international maritime organisations as well as research institutes. The obtained research results indicate that:1. the very advanced consolidation processes among the leading container shipping operators and, consequently, further integration of the container market, radically changes the balance of power in favour of shipping operators and creates the potential to generate serious disruptions in this market and other links in the global supply chains, 2/ regulatory antitrust authorities need to take appropriate regulatory action to limit their market power via legal measures regarding competition.