CMA CGM launches new service between Korea, India and Pakistan

French shipping line CMA CGM has launched the NEW CIMEX 2 service linking Asia /China to India and Pakistan, operated in partnership with Maersk Line.

The new service provides CMA CGM customers with the fastest transit times on the market, a large and attractive port coverage, and a modern fleet on this trade, comprising six vessels of 5,500 TEU in capacity.

It also offers balanced east/westbound connections covering the Asia/Indian Sub Continent/Asia trades as well as access to the inland container depot in Dadri and Nhava Sheva in India.

This new service will complete the existing coverage of CMA CGM Group on the Asia, Middle East Gulf and India Markets.

The service port rotation started in Kwangyang on June 6 to Busan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Da Chan Bay, Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Colombo, Pipavav, Nhava Sheva, Port Qasim, Port Klang, PTP, Singapore, Hong Kong and back to Kwangyang. Shanghai call will start on July 8, 2010.

The Asia to India/Pakistan trade - linking the two economies with the highest populations in the world - is currently expanding. This trend is likely to continue and we therefore decided to develop the NEW CIMEX 2 to keep pace with our customers needs and support the development of their activities on these market explains Ludovic Rozan, Vice-President CMA CGM Asia.

APL tops export rankings for third time in four years U.S. agricultural exporters have again ranked APL the world top container shipping line.

At ceremonies here last night, the Washington, D.C.-based Agriculture Transportation Coalition said the carrier finished atop its shipper satisfaction survey for the third time in four years. The achievement was commemorated by a plaque presented to APL Western Region Vice President George Hearn.

The pleased to receive this recognition again, Hearn said, out there still work to do in delivering the service customers want. This tells us only that were moving in the right direction. The 13-year-old coalition of agricultural exporters began surveying its membership in 2007. It rates ocean carriers on service, bookings and documentation, including bills of lading. APL has topped the rating in every year but one.

This provides a useful overview of agriculture shippers view of carrier performance over an extended period of time, said the coalition in announcing its rankings. Home carriers performance has generated additional cargo contracts and preference by ag exporters and importers. Exports are providing a boost to the U.S. economy as it endeavors to recover from the downturn of 2009. Increasing wealth in developing economies has boosted demand for agricultural products in particular. APL has long been among the top-volume carriers of agricultural and other export commodities.<Korea Shipping Gazette>