CMA CGM develops activity in South Africa

CMA CGM is to include Durban, South Africa as a new call on its WAX (West Africa Express) service linking Asia to West Africa from Friday this week (11 June), coinciding with the start of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The new weekly call will allow CMA CGM to directly connect South Africa to Asia, both eastbound and westbound, in response to the expanding trade from China to South Africa and to growing demand from South African exporters towards Asia.

Operating 11 vessels of 2,600 teu capacity, the WAX service will offer worldwide connections to CMA CGM services from Durban, in addition to those already available from Port Kelang or Colombo.

The new rotation will be: Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Fuqing, Chiwan, Port Kelang, Durban, Walvis Bay, Tema, Apapa, Lome, Abidjan, Durban, Colombo, Port Kelang, Qingdao

"This new call meets the strong customer demand for a direct service between Asia and South Africa. It reflects the determination of CMA CGM to complement the meshing of its three dedicated services between Asia and Africa and creates synergy on this fast growing market," commented Stéphane Courquin, deputy vice-president Africa, Indian Ocean, Oceania Lines.

The new South Africa call follows the recent upgrading of the Group’s AFEX service, directly connecting north and central China to Cameroon, Benin and Nigeria. This service also includes a call in Maputo (Mozambique) on its Asia return leg.

CMA CGM now offers three direct weekly services from Asia to Africa, covering 11 ports in Asia and 13 ports in West and South Africa.
(Source:www.container-mag.com)