CMA CGM to launch new Asia Southern Red Sea Express service

Monday, 24 March 2014 00:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The CMA CGM Group has announced the introduction of the new Asia Southern Red Sea Express (REX3), a new fixed-day weekly service that will broaden its market coverage and provide more efficient and high quality services to customers, starting on 8 May 2014. This new service is in addition to its existing Asia Northern Red Sea Express (REX2) which together will improve CMA CGM’s port coverage to meet the growing demand and customer requirements in the Red Sea market. This new setup is developed through a Vessel Sharing Agreement with United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) and China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) that leverages on CMA CGM’s strong expertise in this region and as part of its continual commitment to better serve customers by providing competitive transit times between ports in Asia and Red Sea.

GRI announced

CMA CGM has announced a General Rate Increase (GRI) From India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to North Europe, Scandinavia, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic, Black Sea, North Africa, Central America and Caribbean, South America effective 15 April 2014. The rate is dry cargo – US$ 200/300 per 20’/40’. The carrier also announced a GRO from all Asian ports (including Japan, South East Asia and Bangladesh) to Jeddah, Ain Sukhna, Aqaba, Djibouti, Port Sudan, Aden, Hodeidah effective 1 April 2014. All cargo – US$ 200/TEU for Jeddah only; all cargo – US$ 300/TEU for all others Red Sea ports.

This new deployment will also benefit Red Sea exporters in minimising their transit time through the improved port coverage. The CMA CGM Group looks forward to this partnership to enhance efficiencies in the deployment of its vessels to provide the most competitive transit times, the widest port coverage and flexible customized services to meet the needs of its valued customers. Stéphane Courquin, Vice-President of CMA CGM Asia Med Lines, stated: “It was strategic to consolidate and build up our presence in the Red Sea markets with improved services from Asia. This new configuration is an additional step of our deployment in the area and confirms the will of the group to strengthen its presence in these strategic areas.” The New REX3 port rotation is as follows: Xiamen-Yantian-Shekou-Port Kelang-Djibouti-Jeddah-Port Sudan-Djibouti-Port Kelang-Xiamen.