Shanghai:  CMA CGM, CSCL, Hanjin Shipping and Hyundai Merchant Marine have banded together to launch a new ACSA 2 direct service between Asia, Mexico and the West Coast of South America. This new joint service is expected to appeal to customers as it provides direct connections to Guayaquil (Ecuador), Iquique and Valparaiso (Chile) and enlarges port coverage of the West Coast of South America.

 “The trade from Asia to the West Coast of South America has enjoyed a healthy growth since the last quarter of 2009, a trend which is due to carry on pursuant to our customers demand on this market. This new service comes in  addition to the Group’s existing ACSA service, providing our customers with  fast transit times and a unique port coverage thanks to the addition of 3 new  calls in Guayaquil, Iquique and Valparaiso”  explains Jean-Yves Duval, Vice President Caribbean and Latin America Lines,  CMA CGM Group.

The ACSA 2 service will start its eastbound rotation at Shekou on September 13th, 2010 and deploy 10 vessels with a capacity of 2350 to 2550 teu on  the following rotation: Shekou  - Ningbo - Shanghai - Pusan - Manzanillo (Mexico) - Buenaventura - Guayaquil -  Callao - Iquique - Valparaiso - San Vicente - Manzanillo (Mexico) - Pusan and  return to Shekou.

Source: seatrade asia