GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 25, 2026

Liner Conference Agreements (Shipping Alliances)

Liner conference agreements emerge when multiple carriers operating scheduled services on the same trade route collectively coordinate freight rates, sailing schedules, and capacity allocation.

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Last updated: 25 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liner_conference

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Logistics Concept

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Definition & Explanation

Liner conference agreements emerge when multiple carriers operating scheduled services on the same trade route collectively coordinate freight rates, sailing schedules, and capacity allocation. These structures dominated major corridors such as Asia–Europe and the transatlantic trades for much of the twentieth century, providing shippers with rate stability at the cost of reduced competition. Regulatory reform — most significantly the EU's removal of the block exemption for liner conferences — effectively dismantled formal conference structures in most trades. Modern vessel-sharing alliances have taken their place: carriers pool tonnage and slots but no longer fix common tariffs. Competition authorities including the European Commission and the US Federal Maritime Commission continue to scrutinise carrier cooperation arrangements for anticompetitive conduct, making this regulatory distinction practically important for freight buyers and compliance teams alike.