The Commerce Commission has given approval for a joint shipping operation owned by Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms.
The two cooperatives have formed a company called Kotahi Logistics to manage the movement of containers, to and from ports.
It's designed to meet shipping demands and stop empty containers from moving around the supply chain.
The commission says that the Kotahi arrangements proposed are not likely to lessen competition in the relevant markets or breach the Commerce Act, and therefore it does not need the commission's authorisation to proceed.
Fonterra applied for Commerce Commission approval in September.
Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms are two of the New Zealand's biggest exporters,
