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Carriers shake up Asia-Americas loops

Ocean carriers Yang Ming, Hanjin and Hyundai will end their jointly operated WLX/SA2 loop between Asia, the West Coast of Mexico and the West Coast of South America next week and join existing services in the trade to maintain port coverage.

   Ocean carriers Yang Ming, Hanjin and Hyundai will terminate their jointly operated WLX/SA2 loop between Asia, the West Coast of Mexico and the West Coast of South America next week, according to their most recent online service schedules.
   The WLX/SA2 will end with the Dec. 18 sailing of the Conti Madrid from Kaohsiung. The loop has a rotation of Kaohsiung, Shekou, Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, Manzanillo (Mexico), Buenaventura, Callao, Valparaiso, Lirquen, Manzanillo (Mexico), Busan and Kaohsiung. A total of 10 vessels with an average capacity of 5,274 TEUs operate on the WLX/SA2, according to ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting.
   The chart below, built using data from BlueWater Reporting’s Capacity Report, illustrates how the termination of the WLX/SA2 will decrease weekly deployed capacity from Asia to the West Coast of South America by 6.6 percent, from 80,207 TEUs a week to 74,933 TEUs a week, not including skipped sailings. Overall, a total of 10 shipping services will deploy capacity from Asia to the East Coast of South America after the WLX/SA2 is terminated.

   Although the service is ending, Yang Ming, Hanjin and Hyundai will join two services each serving the same trades as the WLX/SA2, according to information from ocean freight analyst Alphaliner.
   Hanjin will join the ASA string with the Dec. 25 sailing of the APL Scotland from Busan, according to the carrier’s most recent online service schedules. The Korean ocean carrier, which refers to the service as the WL1, will provide one vessel on the loop.
   The ASA has a rotation of Busan, Kaohsiung, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Manzanillo (Mexico), Lazaro Cardenas, Buenaventura, Balboa, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo (Mexico), Yokohama and Busan. The loop currently operates with eight vessels with an average capacity of 5,902 TEUs, which are provided by APL, MOL and NYK, with Hapag-Lloyd as a slot purchaser, according to BlueWater Reporting.
   In addition, Hanjin will join the ALX service, which it refers to as the WL2, as a slot purchaser with the Dec. 24 sailing of the NYK Libra from Keelung.
   The ALX has a rotation of Keelung, Hong Kong, Da Chan Bay, Xiamen, Shanghai, Ningbo, Busan, Manzanillo (Mexico), Callao, Iquique, Valparaiso, Lirquen, Callao, Manzanillo (Mexico), Tokyo and Keelung. The loop currently operates with 11 vessels with an average capacity of 6,275 TEUs, provided by “K” Line, MOL and NYK, with Hapag-Lloyd taking slots.
   Hyundai will purchase space on the ASPA, which it calls the NW1, with the Dec. 27 sailing of the Santa Ines from Keelung, according to the carrier’s most recent online service schedules.
   The ASPA has a rotation of Keelung, Hong Kong, Yantian, Xiamen, Ningbo, Shanghai, Busan, Manzanillo (Mexico), Callao, Iquique, Mejillones, Valparaiso and Keelung, and currently operates with 10 vessels with an average capacity of 7,489 TEUs, according to BlueWater Reporting. Hamburg Sud and CCNI provide the vessels, while CSCL, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, and subsidiary lines Delmas and Alianca purchase slots on the loop.
   In addition, Hyundai will join the AN2, which it calls NW2, as a slot-taker with the Dec. 27 sailing of the CMA CGM Tigris, according to the carrier’s most recent online service schedules.
   The AN2 has a rotation of Busan, Shanghai, Xiamen, Chiwan, Hong Kong, Manzanillo (Mexico), Lazaro Cardenas, Buenaventura, Callao, San Antonio, Lirquen, Mejillones, Callao, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo (Mexico) and Busan. The loop currently operates with 10 vessels with an average capacity of 9,163 TEUs. Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM and CSCL provide vessels on the AN2, while Hamburg Sud and subsidiary lines Alianca, CCNI and Delmas purchase slots on the loop.
   Yang Ming will join a different service also called ASA with the Jan. 2 sailing of the YM New Jersey, according to the carrier’s most recent online service schedules. The Taiwan-based ocean carrier, which refers to the service as the SA6, will provide vessels on the loop.
   This ASA has a rotation of Kaohsiung, Shekou, Hong Kong, Ningbo, Shanghai, Manzanillo (Mexico), Lazaro Cardenas, Puerto Quetzal, Buenaventura, Guayaquil, Callao, Paita, Manzanillo (Mexico), Busan and Kaohsiung. The loop operates with 10 vessels with an average capacity of 4,713 TEUs, currently provided by Wan Hai, PIL, Evergreen Line and COSCO, according to BlueWater Reporting.
   In addition, Yang Ming will join the WSA, which has a rotation of Kaohsiung, Yantian, Hong Kong, Ningbo, Shanghai, Manzanillo (Mexico), Lazaro Cardenas, Puerto Quetzal, Buenaventura, Guayaquil, Callao, Manzanillo (Mexico) and Kaohsiung, according to Alphaliner.
   The loop currently operates with 11 vessels with an average capacity of 5,779 TEUs, according to BlueWater Reporting. Evergreen Line and COSCO provide the vessels, while PIL and Wan Hai purchase slots on the loop.
   Yang Ming had not released a schedule for this service as of the publishing of this article.