South Korean shipbuilding giant Hyundai Heavy Industries is discussing its $1.8bn bid for rival group Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) with EU antitrust regulators, according to reports.

The European Commission is focusing its concerns on the mega-merger's potential effects on the market for LNG carriers, sources told Reuters.

The EU’s Competition Commission has already dropped its concerns over the impact of the deal on the markets for large container ships, tankers and LPG carriers, Reuters reported.