AP Moller-Maersk gave its clearest sign yet it would divest P&O Nedlloyd’s South African routes today after a leading shippers’ representative claimed the company had agreed to a sell-off in an interview with Bloomberg news agency.



Peter Newton, head of Cape Town-based Seaboard International Trading and the man charged with representing shippers to the EU in the takeover, said P&O Nedlloyd had offered to sell off its South African routes and infrastructure to meet shippers' demands.



Maersk and P&O Nedlloyd together control an estimated 80% of all container trade between South Africa and the EU, said Newton.



Maersk