CMA CGM starts Asia/South Africa loop

CMA CGM starts Asia/South Africa loop    CMA CGM said Friday it is starting a service between the Far East, Indian Ocean Islands and South Africa.
   The service, which CMA CGM dubs the Shaka Express, will begin May 8 with a rotation of Fuzhou, Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Singapore, Port Louis, Durban, Port Elizabeth (Ngqura), Port Louis, Singapore and back to Fuzhou. It will operate with six vessels of 4,500 to 6,500 TEUs.
   The service is particularly targeted at citrus and banana exports from Durban and Port Elizabeth to Hong Kong and Singapore.
   'CMA CGM Group is strongly determined to expand its presence in South Africa. We started by adding stopovers on our existing services, but this new service marks another big step forward with an offer dedicated to the South African Market,' said St'phane Courquin, deputy vice president Africa, Indian Ocean, and Oceania Lines for CMA CGM.
   According to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data, CMA CGM has only one other service directly linking Asia with South Africa — the 10-ship WAX service, which calls in Durban. ' Eric Johnson