Shipping firms operating in Brazil had a bumper end to 2017 with a 15% growth in volumes for the month of December. That resulted in a 10% rise for the year as a whole across all shipping types. There are clear signs of aggressive competition for volumes. Market leader Maersk (including Hamburg Sud) only increased volumes by 8% while number two MSC increased handling by just 6%. By contrast CMA-CGM (number three) rose by 28%, possibly as it begins to take advantage of its purchase of cabotage operator Mercosul. Among the best-of-the-rest NYK expanded handling by 35% (ahead of the star...