P&O Nedlloyd withdraws from Europe/West Africa trade

P&O Nedlloyd withdraws from Europe/West Africa trade

   P&O Nedlloyd will withdraw from the Europe/West Africa liner trade by the end of this year.

   The decision will mean the closure of the joint service with West-Afrika Linien-Dienste by the end of November. The four 1,100-TEU vessels currently deployed on the service, two of which are chartered by P&O Nedlloyd, will be re-deployed.

   Commenting on the decision, Europe/Africa trades general manager Richard Mellor said: “The current trading climate in West Africa is very challenging. We are facing a combination of economic and political uncertainty as well as an oversupply of tonnage.”

   P&O Nedlloyd said that it has ruled out a return to the Europe/West Africa trade when conditions improve.

   The Anglo-Dutch carrier will continue its liner service between Asia and West Africa, which is not affected by the ending of the Europe/West Africa operation.