Coopetition and Cooperation in the Shipping Industry: A Study on the Brazilian Coast

Objective: competition and cooperation occur in different areas of the market. The shipping industry is one of the areas characterized by strong competition and operational cooperation with the objective of operational improvement. Through mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, the shipping industry has advanced with its business and sought better results. Methods: we analyzed coopetition strategies between global actors of shipping industry in the Brazilian market. We used the multiple case study method with the four main shipping lines in the world based on semi-structured interviews and data from official documents. Results: the results indicate that the shipping lines often employ the strategy of joint services and slot service in partnership with other shipping companies. Market coverage, customer needs, and reduced operating costs were identified as the main motivations for coopetition in the shipping industry. Conclusions: we particularly reveal the coopetition strategies of the shipping companies evaluated in the Brazilian market and their plans to continue operating in this strategic region for the shipping industry. Keywords: coopetition; shipping industry; int ventures; mergers and acquisitions; cooperation