CMA CGM is pleased to announce the upgrading of its services linking Asia to India and the Middle East Gulf with the introduction of a new, complementary string to its CIMEX service as from the end of March.

The service coverage from Asia will now be split into 2 strings:

String 1 will be dedicated to serve the markets of the Gulf States, Iran and Iraq whereas string 2 will be dedicated to Colombo and WC India supplemented with a call in the Gulf.

Rotation on this twice-weekly service will be as follows:

String 1: Ningbo, Shanghai, Fuqing/Fuzhou, Chiwan, Port Kelang, Jebel Ali, Khorfakkan, Bandar Abbas, Port Kelang

String 2: Xiamen, Shantou, Chiwan, Laem Chebang, Port Kelang, Colombo, Nhava Sheva, Jebel Ali, Port Kelang

Each string will be operated with five vessels of an average capacity of 2,500 teus and in cooperation with CMA CGM affiliates: ANL and CNC.

'The trade from Asia to the Middle East has enjoyed a healthy growth that is likely to continue. Our customers have been requesting us to keep pace with their growth. The Asia to India trade - linking the two economies with the highest populations - has been growing steadily and is expected to increase in pace rapidly, following the expanding economic ties and increase in spendable income in India', explains Farid Salem, CMA CGM Group Chief Executive Vice-President.

This new service configuration is responding to these developments by offering fast transit times to each market and aims at providing CMA CGM customers with a quality service with additional direct connections.

The service will also open up the market of Shantou by introducing a direct call and linking it to the CMA CGM Group liner network.