The Federal Maritime Commission will shortly publish a report that says it sees the move to three container alliances cutting shipping rates, but that planned acquisitions will lead them to increase. This may have regulatory consequences for Maersk’s acquisition of Hamburg Sud, Hapag-Lloyd’s purchase of UASC and the merger of the three Japanese shippers on U.S.-bound routes. Maersk faces the highest hurdle – Hamburg Sud adds 1.8% points to the market share of the three alliances based on 2016 figures vs. 2015.