MSC, Mærsk & CMA CGM – where rivalry doesn't matter (and where it does)
Behind closed doors
‘Cargo aggregation’ is one strategy that has gained considerable ground among many mainline container lines serving Indian trades, as they seek new growth opportunities.
The latest example involves Hapag-Lloyd and ONE which have set up slot deals with DP World Shipping Solutions (DPWSS, formerly Unifeeder) to move containers from Hazira to Mundra, both major gateways on India’s west coast.
The move is aimed at supporting mainline calls at Mundra with incremental hinterland volumes by using a hub-based operating model. Nhava Sheva and Mundra remain regular ports of call for major long-haul services out of western India.
Feeder access obviates the need for additional direct calls that typically involve high vessel-handling tariffs for carriers.
In a “go-to-customer” strategy, some carriers had begun direct calls at Hazira, including ONE’s IOX service to North Europe and its WIN loop for trades to North America.
Now, with the acquisition of slots on DPWSS vessels, the Singapore-based liner will likely pull direct Hazira calls.
The new intra-India transhipment plans follow the end of a slot space arrangement CMA CGM had with Unifeeder for Hazira, industry sources told The Loadstar.
That disengagement coincided with the Marseille-based carrier announcing an expanded port rotation for its India-Middle East-Red Sea BIGEX-2 service, which from this month includes a call at Hazira. The revised BIGEX-2 rotation is Nhava Sheva-Hazira-Mundra-Jebel Ali-Khalifa-Salalah-Jeddah-Djibouti-Berbera-Nhava Sheva.
Hazira Container Terminal, run by Adani Group, has seen steady growth on the back of more vessel calls. It handled some 818,000 teu in 2025, up from 773,000 teu in 2024, according to industry data.
Meanwhile, Hapag-Lloyd and ONE have also upgraded their jointly-operated Middle East-India-Africa Express service, branded MIAX and AIM respectively, with a new call at Cape Town in South Africa, with the first call slated for 22 January.
The expanded rotation is Jebel Ali-Mundra-Hazira-Nhava Sheva-Colombo-Durban-Tema-Tincan-Apapa-Cape Town-Durban-Jebel Ali.
“This addition will further strengthen connectivity between the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and Africa,” Hapag-Lloyd said in a customer advisory.
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