Register Free Trial A year after the launch of the Gemini Cooperation by Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, the 2 partners continue to under-perform the rest of the market as earnings plunged and turned negative in the 1st quarter despite the purported cost savings from the Gemini alliance. Continued losses are expected for the rest of this year even though all of their main rivals have posted positive earnings after freight rates rebounded in the 1st quarter. The rate momentum remains positive, with TEU

Maersk will launch a new Far East-India Subcontinent 2 (FI2) service connecting Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Tanjung Pelepas, Nhava Sheva, Pipavav, Port Qasim, Shanghai from 4 June 2026. The FI2 will turn in 42 days and will deploy 6 ships of 3,500 to 5,900 teu starting with the 4,496 teu MAERSK COTONOU. The service will complement Maersk’s existing Far East-India Subcontinent 3 (FI3) service that it operates jointly with X-Press Feeders.

Maersk will add a Seasonal Transpacific Loader (TPX) service connecting Cai Mep, Busan, Long Beach, Cai Mep from 8 June 2026. The TPX will turn in 49 days and will deploy 5 to 7 ships of 3,500 to 4,600 teu starting with the 4,395 teu REN JIAN 16. The seasonal loader will operate until September 2026 with 10 sailings currently scheduled and additional sailings to be added depending on market demand. 

COSCO will add a new feeder at its Peruvian hub of Chancay with the launch the Chancay Express 3 (CHX3) service connecting Chancay, Paita, Chancay from 23 June 2026. The CHX3 will turn in 14 days and will deploy the 1,114 teu MEDKON ZOE and 1,296 teu SL HAWK. The new feeder service will add to the existing Chancay Express (CHX) and Chancay Express 2 (CHX2) service that calls respectively at Chancay, Callao, Lirquen, San Antonio, Chancay and Chancay, Callao, Iquique, Arica, Matarani, Chancay.

Hapag-Lloyd has launched a new Poland Germany Express (PGX) service connecting Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Gdynia, Hamburg from 22 April 2026. The service is operated independently by Hapag-Lloyd and turns in 14 days using the 2,824 teu AS CLAUDIA and 2,826 teu IRENES REMEDY. It replaces the former Poland Germany Shuttle (PGS) that is operated together with Maersk as part of the Gemini Cooperation's Europe Shuttle 16, calling the same rotation without the call at Bremerhaven.

Register Free Trial The lack of progress in the re-opening of the Straight of Hormuz and persistently high fuel prices have not dampened container cargo demand as volumes globally are rebounding strongly in May, fueling a fresh round of freight rate increases. The number of containerships idled in the Persian Gulf remains high due to the continued blockade of the Hormuz and the low number of new ship deliveries in the last 2 months have kept the market severely short of ships as charter rates c

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have amended their Gemini Cooperation Agreement to modify the timing of discussions regarding potential seasonal blank sailings with the new arrangement taking effect from March 2026. Under the previous terms of the agreement that started from 1 February 2025, the 2 carriers are authorised to blank sailings only during Chinese New Year or Chinese Golden Week provided such agreement is reached no later than 12 weeks prior to the scheduled date of the sailing. The revised

Register Free Trial Carriers’ have reversed the earnings slump in the 1st quarter with early financial results from COSCO and ONE showing EBIT margin improvements of some 4% compared to 4Q 2025. Freight rates have held up in the 2nd quarter, with carriers able to recover most of the fuel cost increases since March and persisting with regular bi-monthly rate hike announcements as they continue to test the resilience of cargo demand. Charter rates have also strengthened with vessel demand undimin

COSCO Shipping has added a new Singapore-Kota Kinabalu Service (KTS4) connecting Singapore,Kota Kinabalu,Singapore from 3 May 2026. The service turns in 7 days on a weekly frequency using the 707 teu TAN CANG GLORY. Ad hoc calls at Bintulu can also be provided on this service. The service replaces COSCO's previous Yangpu-Batam Express (YBX) service that connected Yangpu, Qinzhou, Kota Kinabalu, Batam, Singapore, Yangpu which has been withdrawn in April 2026 due to port congestion at Kota Kinab

CMA CGM has introduced a new Bengal Bay Express XL (BBXLCNC) service connecting Singapore, Chittagong, Singapore from 2 April 2026. The service turns in 14 days using the 1,952 teu CNC NEPTUNE and 2,782 teu CNC TIGER (subsequently replaced by the smaller 1,118 teu IRIS PAOAY on 22 April 2026).

MSC will launch a new Europe-Red Sea-Middle East Express service from 10 May 2026 calling at Gdansk, Klaipeda, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Valencia, Barcelona, Gioia Tauro, Abu Kir, King Abdullah Port, Jeddah, Aqaba. The service will operate on a single direction, using ships of 14,000 teu to 16,000 teu that will switch in and out of the rotation within the MSC network. It replaces the current West Med to Red Sea service serves the same route on a truncated basis starting from Barcelona, Valencia or G

Samudera Shipping Line has launched a new Korea-Japan Shuttle (KJS) connecting Busan, Nagoya, Kobe, Busan from 8 April 2026. The KJS service turns in 7 days on a weekly frequency using the 1,019 teu ROTTERDAM TRADER. The move marks Samudera's entry into the Northeast Asia market, expanding from its current Southeast Asia and Indian subcontinent presence.