Waterfront operators’ soaring profit margins prompts concerns from competition regulator

ACCC report finds there may not be enough market pressure on dominant port operators as companies blame high shipping charges for rising prices

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Australia’s dominant container terminal operators are enjoying surging profits, prompting accusations from the competition regulator they are not subject to sufficient pricing pressure.

The recent highly profitable period for stevedoring companies, which coincides with pandemic-related disruptions to the global container freight supply chain, is also driving up prices for consumers, according to industry groups unhappy with charging rates.

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