In 1968, Evergreen Line first saw the day of light when Dr. Yung-fa Chang purchased his first ship and Evergreen Marine Corporation came into existence. Now, 50 years later, “The Taiwanese Miracle” is one of the world’s leading container shipping lines. Being its faithful companion since 1979, it is with great pride Greencarrier Liner Agency embraces Evergreen Line’s 50 years of success in the container shipping industry.
A loyal relationship was formed in the early days of containerisation
Greencarrier Liner Agency has a long history with Evergreen Line and it was formed about the same time as containerisation really took off in the early 1980’s. The ability to ship smaller quantities at higher frequencies was an important development for the industry. As an early player, Evergreen Line started off on a small scale and grew to become one of the world’s largest transport companies.
One might wonder how Evergreen Line, as an outsider, managed to become such an early player on the market. The company has always preferred to work alone, or else team up with other lines through loose-knit alliances, rather than become locked into highly integrated consortia or join rate-setting conferences. And so, there is more to the story.
At that time, there was the FEFC (Far Eastern Freight Conference) where all shipping lines with traffic between Asia and Europe were connected, which had existed since the end of the 19th century. Evergreen Line challenged the authority of this belligerent cartel. The confrontation made a lasting impression on the veteran shipowners and broke the dominance of the FEFC. Evergreen Line’s global network of services rapidly expanded and a much more open market competition began to take form.
A relationship built on loyalty, mutual trust, and commitment
Dr. Yung-fa Chang’s willingness to take on the FEFC when the conference had a tight grip on the Asia-Europe trades was typical of the fighting spirit that Evergreen Line has always exhibited – and still does today. This is also something that has permeated the cooperation between Evergreen Line and Greencarrier Liner Agency right from the start. Based on mutual values and future visions, the two companies have developed a very strong relationship over the years.
Fredrik Hermansson is the Managing Director at Greencarrier Liner Agency Sweden and has been with Greencarrier for 21 years. “Our history with Evergreen Line is extraordinary. There is a high degree of loyalty, mutual trust, and commitment in our relationship”, he says. “We are one of Evergreen Line’s few agents and trusted to make a lot of decisions locally. Together, we have developed our Nordic market and created a well-deserved reputation in the Nordic region as well as achieved long-term customer relationships worldwide.”
Tuomas Timgren is the CEO of Greencarrier Liner Agency. He became the Managing Director for the Finnish division of Greencarrier Liner Agency in 2007, three years before stepping up as CEO for the entire Nordic division. He remembers what it was like back when it all started. “Evergreen Line was actually the very first shipping company to ship timber from Finland to Japan by containers via the help of Greencarrier Liner Agency, he says. They have always been one step ahead in the shipping industry. When first entering the container shipping market, Dr. Yung-fa Chang was quick to establish business contacts also in the United States – the world’s number one supplier of containers at the time, and a country where many harbours had already adapted to the idea of container shipping and implemented the necessary infrastructure”.
Developments in the container shipping industry over the past 50 years
Looking back, there has been a tremendous development for the container shipping industry in general and Evergreen Line in particular. The vessels have become bigger and increased in numbers, harbours have become larger, the volumes have increased, and more goods are being shipped by sea at higher frequencies.
“The growth of the container shipping industry is about five to ten per cent each year, and the need for and interest in container transports only increases, not least in terms of emerging markets, such as Nigeria”, Fredrik says. “We can now expect new logistics flows and transport routes from East Asia to Europe and across the Pacific Sea as well as from East Asia to North America in general and California in particular.”
Tuomas agrees. “We see great potential in developing countries, not least in Africa. Many harbours worldwide are developing their infrastructure to be able to handle major container shipments.”
“Also, the door-to-door service is much improved”, ads Fredrik. “Containers are often stuffed on site, for example in a factory in China, and then shipped off to the final destination in Sweden without transhipment.”
There is also the globalisation to take into consideration. Increased international shipping has been, and continues to be, both an effect of and a major contributor to worldwide globalisation. Lately, because of increasing competition in the market, Greencarrier Liner Agency has seen a development where the already sheer number of carriers has decreased due to mergers, takeovers and new corporate alliances.
“Competition is tough and today’s container shipping companies need to have a high level of knowledge and skills to remain on the market – of which Evergreen Line is a good example”, says Fredrik.
Independence and long-term thinking holds the key to success
Fredrik is right. Although many competitors have been bought out or gone bankrupt over the years, Evergreen Line has managed to stand strong. With the exception of the acquisition of the Italian shipping company Lloyd Triestino back in 1998, Evergreen Line has solely grown organically over the past decades.
“Evergreen Line has always been a very independent company, well-run and financially solid. They have succeeded to maintain a strong presence in Taiwan and Japan, where they first established their business”, says Tuomas.
“Evergreen Line continues to be one of the largest players in the industry. It is a successful family business with a long-term thinking, which has been a central strategy from the very beginning. Given the solid success over the years, one must say, that they have done really well”, Fredrik says.
Keep an eye out for Part 2: Evergreen Line celebrates 50 years of success in the container shipping industry.
