As global trade continues its recovery, the Far East-East Coast South America (FE-ECSA) container shipping route has experienced remarkable growth in capacity demand, injecting new vitality into the shipping market. According to the latest data from DynaLiners , this trade corridor now operates nine regular services as of June, a significant increase from six services during the same period last year.
Strategic Expansion by Major Carriers
This expansion reflects strategic moves by several major shipping companies. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) recently launched three new services, including the Carioca service, the ASAS2/SEAS3 jointly operated by CMA CGM and Maersk , and the FL2/SX2 service operated by HMM in partnership with Ocean Network Express (ONE) . These new services have not only increased annual trade capacity but also boosted total capacity by 36%, now reaching 2.8 million TEUs.
Shift Toward Smaller Vessels
Notably, these new services primarily utilize smaller container vessels, resulting in an average vessel size reduction of approximately 1,000 TEUs compared to previous operations. The current average vessel size stands at 9,200 TEUs.
In terms of market share, CMA CGM , COSCO Shipping , Evergreen Marine , PIL , and Yang Ming maintain leading positions in this trade lane, while MSC holds a relatively smaller market presence. Other carriers such as Hapag-Lloyd , ONE , and MSC operate through various partnership models, creating a diverse and competitive market landscape.
Reflecting Broader Industry Trends
This development not only demonstrates the growing demand on the FE-ECSA route but also highlights strategic shifts in vessel deployment and market positioning by global carriers. The shipping industry continues to adapt and evolve in response to market changes.
With the continuous addition of new services, the container shipping market along this trade corridor is expected to become more mature and diversified in the coming months, potentially setting new benchmarks for operational efficiency and service quality in regional shipping networks.