Several box carriers have announced changes in their Far East service networks aiming to improve and upgrade their products.
SeaLead has introduced a new service, the Far East-India Express (FIX3), connecting the Far East and India. Operated by six vessels ranging from 2,500 to 4,500 TEUs, the route includes calls at the Chinese port of Shanghai, Ningbo and Guangzhou, the Indian port of Nhava Sheva, and returns to Shanghai.
Additionally, CMA CGM and Maersk are launching a joint Far East-Santos service, named SEAS3 and ASAS2, respectively. The service will operate with eleven ships, each between 5,000 and 8,000 TEUs, and will serve as the sole South American hub, connecting China, Vietnam, and Singapore.
This new service is set to complement CMA CGM’s existing partnerships with COSCO and Evergreen (SEAS/SEAS2), as well as Maersk’s collaboration with ZIM on the ASAS service.
The route will include stops at Shanghai, Shenzhen (Shekou), Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh (Cai Mep), Singapore, and Brazil’s Santos, before returning to Shanghai.
Moreover, MSC has decided to expand its Africa Express service to include Cameroon’s port of Kribi and increase its fleet to 13 vessels. The Swiss carrier is also reallocating several 24,000 TEU ships from the Far East – Europe corridor to this route.
The revised itinerary covers Tianjin (China), Busan (South Korea), Kwangyang (South Korea), Ningbo (China), Shanghai (China), Guangzhou (Nansha, China), Shenzhen (Shekou, China), Ho Chi Minh (Cai Mep, Vietnam), Singapore, Vizhinjam (India), Tema (Ghana), Lome (Togo), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Kribi (Cameroon), Singapore, Ho Chi Minh (Cai Mep), Qingdao (China), and back to Tianjin.
