The pre-existing alliance, which included COSCO Shipping Lines, Gold Star Line, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Evergreen, and PIL, is now transitioning to a three-carrier configuration, with Evergreen’s exit confirmed and PIL’s participation highly unlikely to continue. This realignment necessitates a comprehensive review and recalibration of port coverage, vessel deployment, and schedule coordination across the trade lane.  

Under the revised structure, the ZAX2/SA2/SAS loop—operated jointly by COSCO Shipping Lines (including its affiliate OOCL), Gold Star Line, and Ocean Network Express—will remove Kaohsiung, Xiamen, and Nansha from its rotation. The updated loop will instead serve Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen (Shekou), Hong Kong, Singapore, Durban, Cape Town, and return to Qingdao via Singapore.  

Concurrently, the ZAX3/SA1/SAC loop will de-list Qingdao and reintroduce Xiamen and Nansha. Its revised rotation will connect Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Nansha, Singapore, Durban, and return to Shanghai via Singapore.  

This network optimization reflects broader strategic shifts in carrier collaboration models and capacity allocation priorities, as ocean carriers actively refine their service portfolios to align with evolving demand patterns, port infrastructure developments, and operational efficiency targets along the Asia–South Africa corridor.

Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/4mYn8R9mwdvZccL60ypP9A