Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) announced it is launching a new service to the Middle East as it strives to corner the largest market share in the region.
The company stated that effective July 18, it is operating the new China-Middle East Express (CME). This follows the revamp earlier this month of its only loop to the area, the Korea-Middle East Service (KMS).
“Since Iran sanctions were lifted in January 2016, the cargo volume is expected to increase, and HMM decided to reorganize KMS as Korea-Middle East Express (KME) and introduce China-Middle East Express (CME) in order to consolidate the company’s operations in the region,” it said.
“The new services will boost HMM’s market share in FE-Middle East market from 8% to 13%, enabling HMM to become the first market leader,” the South Korean carrier added.
KME, which had its maiden sailing on July 7, is operated by six container ships—three 8,600-TEU box vessels and three 6,800-TEUs ships.
Compared to KMS, the restructured service will be able to deliver cargoes about two days faster, said the company.
The port rotation of KME is Gwangyang-Busan-Ningbo-Yantian-Hong Kong-Singapore-Port Klang-Jebel Ali-Abu Dhabi-Bandar Abbas-Karachi-Singapore-Hong Kong.
For the CME, the ocean liner will be deploying six 4,600-TEU carriers to the new swing on July 18. With the new trade lane, transit time from Shanghai to Dammam will take only 18 days, or two to three days faster than that of competitors, HMM claimed.
Port rotation is Qingdao-Shanghai-Xiamen-Kaohsiung-Shekou-Jebel Ali-Dammam-Bandar Abbas-Singapore-Hong Kong.
The CME service adds Qingdao, Xiamen, Shekou, and Dammam to its coverage, which were not included in the previous service, to expand HMM’s operational networks.
HMM is also enhancing its service frequency by calling at Bandar Abbas and Jebel Ali, the region’s major ports, twice a week instead of once a week in the past.
Moreover, by August, the shipping line will gradually deploy seven 13,100-TEU container ships that were previously operated for LP6 into the Asia-Mediterranean Express Service.
OOCL unveils Far East-Europe sling
Meanwhile, Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) is adding a new service to the Asia-Europe trade starting late August to extend its existing Mediterranean network to the Adriatic region.
The new Asia-Adriatic Service (AAS) provides direct linkage between Asia and Adriatic ports to offer more competitive and reliable services than transshipment options, said OOCL.
“It is the only dedicated service with coverage between Asia and the Adriatic region, including Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, on top of our extensive inland network throughout Central Europe.”
The AAS port rotation is Shanghai-Ningbo-Busan-Chiwan-Tanjung Pelepas-Port Klang-Koper-Trieste-Rijeka-Venice-Koper-Malta-Jeddah-Port Klang-Tanjung Pelepas-Nansha-Shanghai.
The initial westbound voyage has an estimated time of arrival at Shanghai of August 25 and the eastbound voyage has an ETA at Koper of September 24.
