Israeli shipping company Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) has further expanded its strategic cooperation with the members of the 2M Alliance – Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
Specifically, ZIM has now decided to boost ties with 2M on the Asia-US Gulf trade.
The new agreement includes two new strings — ZGC – ZIM US Gulf Central China Xpress and ZGX – ZIM US Gulf South China Xpress.
A total of ten 6,500 TEU vessels will be deployed in the first service, with the following rotation: Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan (Panama Canal Transit), Houston, Mobile, Miami, Freeport, (Panama Canal Transit), Araijan, Busan.
The first sailing is scheduled from Ningbo on August 18, subject to regulatory approval.
Another ten 4,500 TEU boxships will be deployed in the second abovementioned service which will have the following rotation: Xiamen, Yantian, Busan (Panama Canal Transit), Houston, Mobile, Tampa, Manzanillo, (Panama Canal Transit), Balboa, Busan.
The first sailing is planned from Xiamen on August 16.
As explained, the new services, catering for both Central and South China and South Korea offer direct connections to major ports in Asia and the US Gulf.
“This is the third phase of our tightening cooperation with the 2M Alliance, now extending to four major trades,” Eli Glickman, ZIM President and CEO, commented.
“We are very pleased to further strengthen our portfolio and enhance our strategic cooperation with the 2M Alliance on this important trade, in which ZIM will be a vessel operator. The two new lines offer better port coverage in the growing US Gulf market, excellent transit time both for imports and exports,” Nissim Yochai, ZIM EVP Pacific Trade, said.
The new cooperation follows previous agreements on Asia – US East Coast , operating since September 2018, and on Asia – Pacific North West and Asia – Mediterranean trades , operating since March 2019.