CMA CGM announced the addition, on June 11th, first day of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, of a new call in Durban on its WAX service (West Africa Express) linking Asia to West Africa.

This new weekly call will allow CMA CGM to directly connect South Africa to Asia (Eastbound and Westbound) and thus respond to the expanding trade from China to South Africa and to the growing demand from South African exporters towards Asia.

WAX service, which deploys 11 vessels of 2,600 teu capacity, will offer worldwide connections to CMA CGM services from Durban, in addition to those already available from Port Kelang or Colombo.

The new rotation will be as follows: Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Fuqing, Chiwan, Port Kelang, Durban, Walvis Bay, Tema, Apapa, Lome, Abidjan, Durban, Colombo, Port Kelang, Qingdao.

"This new call will meet the strong customer demand for a direct service between Asia and South Africa. It reflects the determination of CMA CGM to complement the meshing of its 3 dedicated services between Asia and Africa and create synergy on this fast growing market" comments St'phane Courquin, Deputy Vice-President Africa, Indian Ocean, Oceania Lines.

This new call comes at the same time as the upgrading of the Group's AFEX service that directly connects, since May 15th, North and Central China to Cameroon, Benin and Nigeria and whose stop in Maputo (Mozambique) on the way back to Asia completes the interconnection of CMA CGM services to Asia.

Thanks to these developments, CMA CGM offers its clients 3 direct weekly services from Asia to Africa, an enhanced port coverage including 11 ports in Asia, 13 ports in West and South Africa and competitive transit times.