Liner giants AP Moller-Maersk and CMA CGM have established new divisions to cover emerging markets and specialised shipping.
Maersk has established a division to integrate the emerging markets of the IMEA region that covers the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Africa.
The Danish carrier has appointed Richard Morgan as regional managing director of the division covering West/Central Asia and Africa.
The company said the restructuring will enable it to harvest synergies in geographically strategic locations.
“To achieve this, it is imperative for us to evolve and organise ourselves in the same way that most of our customers are organised geographically,” Morgan said.
He added that the restructuring had come about because market conditions were constantly changing, “especially in the post-pandemic era, where demand is softening”.
In a separate move, CMA CGM said it would be forming a division to focus on specialised shipping activities.
The new division will be used to spearhead the company’s growth into sectors, such as in ro-ros, ropaxes and car carriers.
The French carrier has already invested €25m ($26m) in European ropax operator Brittany Ferries “to support its recovery”.
It is also hoping to take over French ropax and ro-ro operator La Meridionale, subject to regulatory approval. The company is said to have been losing money for several years.
In contrast, CMA CGM last week reported full-year profit of $24.9bn in 2022.
The new division will also oversee Neoline Armateur, which is building a wind-powered ro-ro vessel that CMA CGM is helping to finance.
CMA CGM will pursue expansion into the ro-ro and finished vehicle logistics sector via its French logistics subsidiary Gefco.
