MSC Announces New independent Route Network and new cooperation with ZIM!
Mediterranean Shipping (MSC), the world's largest shipping company, announced on September 9 that it will officially launch a new east-west independent transport network from February 2025.
MSC said the new network will deploy 34 loop services on five key trade routes, replacing the existing 2M joint venture agreement with Maersk, and will provide a unique and comprehensive solution for east-west trade routes through two shipping options via the Suez Canal and the Cape of Good Hope.
Soren Toft, Chief Executive Officer of MSC, said: "We are delighted to present the future of independent east-west transport networks to all our customers around the world, who will benefit from MSC's consistently high quality transport services."
On the same day, Star Shipping announced that it has reached a new long-term operating cooperation agreement with MSC on the trade routes from Asia to the East Coast of the United States and from Asia to the Bay Area of the United States. The partnership is scheduled to start in February 2025, subject to regulatory approval and filing.
Star Line said the new partnership will bring more comprehensive port coverage, provide customers with more transportation options and better services, while also improving operational efficiency.
Eli Glickman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Star Line, said: "This partnership greatly strengthens Star's competitive position, particularly in the Asia to US East Coast market. We are delighted to once again join forces with MSC to expand our route network."
He further stressed that the collaboration is in line with Estar's decarbonization goals and will promote the application of larger and more environmentally friendly container ships. "I am proud to be the first liner to bring LNG-powered container ships to trade from Asia to the US East Coast, which gives us a unique competitive advantage in this market." As market conditions continue to change, we will remain flexible and fully prepared to take advantage of various market opportunities."
According to the agreement between Estar and MSC, the cooperation covers six routes and includes space exchange and ship sharing agreements. Specific routes are as follows:
ZIM Seven Stars (Z7S) : Singapore - Lim Chaban - Salt Pan - Guyme - Suez Canal - New York - Baltimore - Norfolk - Singapore
ZIM Xpress Baltimore (ZXB) : Singapore - Guyme - Haiphong - Salt Pan - Panama Canal - Newcastle - Charleston - New York - Baltimore
ZIM North Star (ZNS) : Busan - Qingdao - Shanghai - Ningbo - Panama Canal - New York - Baltimore
ZIM Container Service Pacific (ZCP) : Nansha - Yantian - Xiamen - Shanghai - Busan - Manzanillo - Panama Canal - Savannah
ZIM Gulf Central China Xpress (ZGC) : Ningbo - Shanghai - Busan - Panama Canal - Houston - New Orleans
ZIM South Lotus (ZSL) : Gaimei - Xiamen - Yantian - Busan - Houston
Estar also said it will continue to operate the Pacific Southwest routes ZEX and ZX2 independently, and maintain its cooperation with MSC's existing Pacific Northwest route ZNP.
ZIM E-CommerceXpress (ZEX) : Gamme - Salt Pan - Los Angeles - Gamme
ZIM Central China Xpress (ZX2) : Shanghai - Ningbo - Los Angeles - Shanghai
ZIM North Pacific (ZNP) : Yantian - Shanghai - Qingdao - Busan - Vancouver - Yantian
He also believes that Star also has experience in cooperating with the alliance, especially after HMM parted ways with the 2M alliance, Star has become a regular partner of 2M, and has maintained good cooperation with MSC and Maersk.
Today, MSC and Estar have announced major cooperation plans, demonstrating that the two companies are actively adapting to the changing alliance landscape of the global shipping market.
In addition, MSC also announced on September 9 that it has entered into a partnership with the newly formed "Premier Alliance" for a space exchange. The cooperation will take effect from February 2025 and cover the Asia-Northern Europe and Asia-Mediterranean trade routes.
On January 25, 2023, 2M alliance members Maersk and MSC jointly announced that the two sides have agreed to terminate the operation of the 2M alliance from January 2025.
For the on-off of the alliance, some industry experts have believed that whether the liner company is an alliance is related to the market development trend. The biggest advantage of alliance is to realize the sharing of resources and maximize the interests of enterprises. When the market is bad, the advantages of alliances are most obvious, and once the market turns good, the benefits of enterprises working independently will be greater.
MSC said the new network will deploy 34 loop services on five key trade routes, replacing the existing 2M joint venture agreement with Maersk, and will provide a unique and comprehensive solution for east-west trade routes through two shipping options via the Suez Canal and the Cape of Good Hope.
Soren Toft, CEO of MSC
Soren Toft, Chief Executive Officer of MSC, said: "We are delighted to present the future of independent east-west transport networks to all our customers around the world, who will benefit from MSC's consistently high quality transport services."
On the same day, Star Shipping announced that it has reached a new long-term operating cooperation agreement with MSC on the trade routes from Asia to the East Coast of the United States and from Asia to the Bay Area of the United States. The partnership is scheduled to start in February 2025, subject to regulatory approval and filing.
Star Line said the new partnership will bring more comprehensive port coverage, provide customers with more transportation options and better services, while also improving operational efficiency.
Eli Glickman, President and CEO of Star Line
Eli Glickman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Star Line, said: "This partnership greatly strengthens Star's competitive position, particularly in the Asia to US East Coast market. We are delighted to once again join forces with MSC to expand our route network."
He further stressed that the collaboration is in line with Estar's decarbonization goals and will promote the application of larger and more environmentally friendly container ships. "I am proud to be the first liner to bring LNG-powered container ships to trade from Asia to the US East Coast, which gives us a unique competitive advantage in this market." As market conditions continue to change, we will remain flexible and fully prepared to take advantage of various market opportunities."
According to the agreement between Estar and MSC, the cooperation covers six routes and includes space exchange and ship sharing agreements. Specific routes are as follows:
ZIM Seven Stars (Z7S) : Singapore - Lim Chaban - Salt Pan - Guyme - Suez Canal - New York - Baltimore - Norfolk - Singapore
ZIM Xpress Baltimore (ZXB) : Singapore - Guyme - Haiphong - Salt Pan - Panama Canal - Newcastle - Charleston - New York - Baltimore
ZIM North Star (ZNS) : Busan - Qingdao - Shanghai - Ningbo - Panama Canal - New York - Baltimore
ZIM Container Service Pacific (ZCP) : Nansha - Yantian - Xiamen - Shanghai - Busan - Manzanillo - Panama Canal - Savannah
ZIM Gulf Central China Xpress (ZGC) : Ningbo - Shanghai - Busan - Panama Canal - Houston - New Orleans
ZIM South Lotus (ZSL) : Gaimei - Xiamen - Yantian - Busan - Houston
Estar also said it will continue to operate the Pacific Southwest routes ZEX and ZX2 independently, and maintain its cooperation with MSC's existing Pacific Northwest route ZNP.
ZIM E-CommerceXpress (ZEX) : Gamme - Salt Pan - Los Angeles - Gamme
ZIM Central China Xpress (ZX2) : Shanghai - Ningbo - Los Angeles - Shanghai
ZIM North Pacific (ZNP) : Yantian - Shanghai - Qingdao - Busan - Vancouver - Yantian
He also believes that Star also has experience in cooperating with the alliance, especially after HMM parted ways with the 2M alliance, Star has become a regular partner of 2M, and has maintained good cooperation with MSC and Maersk.
Today, MSC and Estar have announced major cooperation plans, demonstrating that the two companies are actively adapting to the changing alliance landscape of the global shipping market.
In addition, MSC also announced on September 9 that it has entered into a partnership with the newly formed "Premier Alliance" for a space exchange. The cooperation will take effect from February 2025 and cover the Asia-Northern Europe and Asia-Mediterranean trade routes.
On January 25, 2023, 2M alliance members Maersk and MSC jointly announced that the two sides have agreed to terminate the operation of the 2M alliance from January 2025.
For the on-off of the alliance, some industry experts have believed that whether the liner company is an alliance is related to the market development trend. The biggest advantage of alliance is to realize the sharing of resources and maximize the interests of enterprises. When the market is bad, the advantages of alliances are most obvious, and once the market turns good, the benefits of enterprises working independently will be greater.
