THE ACCC is now confident it has assembled a body of work via its Container Stevedoring Monitoring reports to pursue better outcomes for shippers and transport operators in the New Year.
Commissioner Anna Brakey told DCN this morning [12 December] the Commission had observed a continued increase in stevedore profitability year-on-year, despite their being plenty of capacity in the market that should be enabling greater competition.
“We’ve been assembling a body of evidence for a long time and we can now see a clear re-balancing of stevedore revenue to the landside. There is very little difference between the charges and fees levied by the stevedores so little incentive for customers to switch users even if they could, whether it be lines or terminals,” Ms Brakey said.
“The degree of market power and influence held by the stevedores is a growing concern as is the increase in profits year after year.”
Ms Brakey said the ACCC is yet to engage with the Federal Government on these matters but expects to as the latest CSM report is digested by all stakeholders.
The Commission intends to begin an intensive round of consultations and discussions in the first half of next year and wants to better understand relationships between shipping lines, importers, exporters, stevedores and other service providers to determine where decisions are taken.
Ms Brakey said the ACCC was increasingly confident it has sound evidence to recommend a way forward but was very conscious of “getting it right”.
“We’ll engage with all stakeholders,” she said. “We don’t want unintended consequences, but it is time to address shipper concerns.”