DOJ Charges Major Container Makers in Global Price-Fixing Conspiracy
The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a superseding indictment charging four of the world’s largest container manufacturers and 11 executives with a multi-year conspiracy to restrict production and fix prices for standard dry shipping containers from 2019 through at least January 2024, a scheme that helped double container prices and boost profits during the pandemic. One executive, Vick Ma, was arrested in France with extradition pending; others remain at large. The case, brought by the Antitrust Division with help from multiple agencies, carries Sherman Act penalties for individuals and corporations, and underscores ongoing international law-enforcement cooperation.