CMA CGM adds routes to GC ports

The France-based CMA CGM container shipping company has scheduled more routes between Asia and the U.S. Gulf and South Atlantic coasts to take advantage of double-digit increases in the demand for imports and exports along the routes. The “extra loaders” run alongside the carrier’s PEX3 eastbound round-the-world service, which was upgraded this year with larger container ships and the addition of a call to the Port of New Orleans. Total traffic to and from Asia through five American ports served on this PEX 3 surged 21.8 percent to 506,866 TEU in the first six months of 2017. Imports are up 21 percent; and exports jumped 23.5 percent. Sea-service capacity from Asia to Gulf Coast ports – NOLA, Mobile, Ala., and Houston - has been tight by increased exports of polyethylene and other synthetic resins from a half-dozen new Louisiana and Texas plants scheduled to open this year. Ports on the Gulf, East, and West coasts are all competing to handle resin export growth. Houston now handles 46.4 percent of American resin exports; and New Orleans is second, with 19.7 percent. CMA CGM has one of three Asian services to the Gulf Coast. The others are operated by the 2M Alliance, Mediterranean Shipping, and Cosco. (Source: JOC.com 08/10/17) CMA CGM is the third-largest container shipping company by capacity in the world, and is present in more than 150 countries.