The world’s third largest container shipping company initiated a new direct service from the Port of New Orleans to the west coast of South America this week. Marseille, France-based CMA CGM launched its Med Americas service with the arrival over the weekend of the container ship Pomerenia Sky at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal. The new service is wholly-operated by CMA CGM vessels and will offer weekly and direct service to San Antonio, Chile; Callao, Peru; and Buenaventura, Columbia. The new calls are in addition to already established CMA CGM weekly South America direct calls to Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Cartagena, Columbia. Primary inbound cargo opportunities for New Orleans include fresh fruits, forest products and containerized copper to be traded on the London Metal Exchange, while export cargo will include fresh poultry and plastic resins for manufacturing. “CMA CGM’s expanded service from New Orleans to the west coast of South America will greatly help New Orleans strengthen its trading position with our partners in South America,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. “CMA CGM began calling the Port of New Orleans in 2009 and since has grown its business to and from the Port throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe and the Mediterranean.”