PUBLISHER: The Load Star (www.theloadstar.com)
“Shape-shifting” is how Sarah Banks, global freight and logistics lead at Accenture, describes 2021.
There have, of course, been many changes, but perhaps the one with the longest-term effect is the massive growth in M&A, spurred on by vast profits, particularly for shipping lines.
And the M&A news just keeps on coming, as any end-of-year-fatigued freight journalist will tell you.
This week alone: MSC made a €5.7bn bid for Bolloré Africa Logistics; Maersk agreed to buy LF Logistics, Li & Fung’s fulfilment arm; MSC was given approval to take over Brazil’s Log-in Logistica; and CMA CGM firmed up an order for four freighters – and it’s only Wednesday morning as I write this.