ZIM announced that as of January 2008, ZIM France S.A. Marseille offices are joined by a new office in Le Havre, France's fast growing and leading container hub port.

ZIM have been already represented in Le Havre through an agency. The opening of a ZIM France owned office in Le Havre corresponds with the launching of ZIM's new East-West Express service (EWX), connecting China and other Asian ports with major North European ports, including Le Havre. The new service, commencing on mid-January, operates 8 X 4250 teu vessels offering improved services on the following weekly rotation: Shanghai - Xiamen - Shekou - Port Kelang - Bremerhaven - Tilbury - Antwerp - Le Havre ' Shanghai. ZIM EWX service offers competitive transit times from and to Asia, including connections through ZIM's extensive regional feeder services, and a diversified fleet of containers, including refrigerated, flat and open top containers. With the new ZIM EWX service, the ZIM Le Havre and Marseille offices represents the following main ZIM services serving the French market:

  • Asia: ZIM EWX and AEX (North Europe), AMX (Mediterranean), and ISE (India Sub Continent-North Europe) services
  • North America: ZIM NEX and AUE (North Europe), ZCS, MUS and MGX (Mediterranean) services
  • Caribbean, Central and South America: ZIM NCX (North Europe), ZCS and New Sirius (Mediterranean) service
  • Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea countries: ZIM NEC (North Europe), ZCS and TYR (Mediterranean) services
  • Africa: ZIM NAF (North Europe) and MAF (Mediterranean) services.

All ZIM services are connected to ZIM's regional feeder services and backed by ZIM's global office network. As always, ZIM prides itself on its personal approach to customers and the particular attention dedicated to customer's special needs by offering diversified and readily available special equipment for perishable commodities, hazardous or oversized cargoes.

This new development is part of ZIM's strategic growth plan, which includes the purchase of 20 Very Large Container Ships ("VLCS") of capacities ranging from 8,000 to 12,600 teu, which will be progressively delivered over the coming years. In parallel with these investments, ZIM pursues a continuous development and enhancement of its global and regional services.