Evergreen Line will join forces with Cosco and ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd to upgrade the fleet operating its Asia - South America service, ASE, linking China, Singapore and South America’s east coast.
The new loop, starting 11 May, will link China, Singapore and the East Coast of South America, enabling the carriers to meet the growing demand on this trade and offer more efficient services to customers.
A total of 10 ships of 8,500 20-foot-equivalent units will be deployed in the new ASE service, replacing the existing fleet of 3,000-TEU vessels. Evergreen will provide five of these ships, Cosco will provide three, and Zim the remaining two.
Additionally, the Brazilian ports of Rio Grande and Itapoa will be added to the current service rotation, which will become: Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian and Hong Kong in China; Singapore; Santos and Paranagua, Brazil; Montevideo, Uruguay; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio Grande; Itapoa; and back to Santos, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
The region is enjoying strong economic growth. According to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook report, published in January, Latin America as a whole is forecast to attain economic growth rates of 3.6% this year and 3.9% in 2014, compared with 3% in 2012.
Rafael Ben-Ari, Zim's VP Shipping, said: “the upgrade of ASE is part of our ongoing strategic focus on the Latin American market, and our continued efforts to improve our services and respond to market needs.”
