CMA CGM has launched the Mekong Transpacific Express (MTE), a dedicated weekly transpacific container service establishing direct maritime connectivity between Vietnam and the U.S. West Coast. This initiative represents a strategic evolution of CMA CGM’s Vietnam–U.S. network, replacing the existing Java Sea Express (JAX) service with a reconfigured loop optimized for Vietnam-centric trade flows.

The MTE will call at Haiphong and Vung Tau in Vietnam, followed by Shanghai (China), Los Angeles and Oakland (U.S. West Coast), and Kaohsiung (Taiwan). The inaugural sailing is scheduled for 28 May 2026 aboard the vessel "APL Danube".

Key service enhancements include:  

• Direct ocean leg from northern and southern Vietnam to major U.S. West Coast gateways—reducing end-to-end transit times and improving schedule adherence;  

• Seamless inland integration via the Port of Los Angeles, enabling immediate access to on-dock rail services operated by Fenix Marine Services and CMA CGM’s SEAPRIORITY logistics platform;  

• Continued barge-based feeder connectivity for cargo originating in Ho Chi Minh City to the Gemalink Container Terminal (GCT) in Cai Mep–Thi Vai, ensuring comprehensive coverage of Southern Vietnam’s export base;  

• Extended regional reach through GIL-operated barge services linking Phnom Penh (Cambodia) to Cai Mep, facilitating Cambodian exports onto the MTE network;  

• Full operational alignment with the ongoing Phase 2 expansion of Gemalink Container Terminal—which will increase its annual handling capacity from 1.7 million TEUs to 3 million TEUs by 2027—supporting scalable, high-efficiency throughput.

Customers previously served by JAX from Singapore, Port Klang, and Laem Chabang will be transitioned to alternative services within CMA CGM’s broader Asia–Pacific network, ensuring uninterrupted capacity and service continuity.

Amelie Humphreys, Managing Director of CMA CGM Vietnam, stated: “The launch of the Mekong Transpacific Express is more than a service enhancement—it is a clear signal of our long-term commitment to Vietnam’s growth as a pivotal manufacturing and export hub. Having operated continuously in the country since 1989, CMA CGM today deploys 29 weekly services across seven Vietnamese ports.”

Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/H7MEjdsmvH5JvrCqP4Ou3Q