Maersk Line, the world’s largest container shipping line, has closed its Greater China headquarters in Beijing and halved the number of its mainland sub-regional offices against a background of slowing demand, the South China Morning Post reported. Three sub-regional offices – in Xiamen, Shenzhen and Guangzhou – are to be merged into the three others -- in Qingdao, Shanghai and Hong Kong – that will now cover north China, east China and south China.

Maersk Line’s operations in Greater China are to be grouped under its north Asia regional office, headquartered in Hong Kong. Beijing will remain as the mainland headquarters of Maersk Group, which also has terminal operations and logistics services.

The company said the restructuring was not aimed at cutting costs.