CMA CGM, Emirates Upgrade Asia-Africa Service

CMA CGM Group and Emirates Shipping Line upgraded their joint service linking Asia to East Africa by deploying larger vessels “to support the strong and regular growth of this trade."

CMA CGM said the ASEA service, now featuring six 2,500 20-foot equivalent container capacity ships, offers direct weekly calls and more reefer capacity. The French carrier said the service offers “one of the fastest” transit speeds available between Asia and the ports of Mombasa in Kenya and Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania.

A number of carriers have been adding direct links between Africa and Asia as trading volumes grow. China’s Ministry of Commerce said trade between China and Africa increased from $10 billion in 2000 to $127 billion in 2010, while Asia-Africa trade climbed to $304 billion last year and is forecast to soar to over $1.5 billion by 2020.

The service will rotate: Port Kelang, Singapore, Port Victoria or Male, Mombasa, Tanga, Dar Es Salam, Colombo and back to Port Kelang.

-- Contact Mike King at michael@borderline.eu.com