en.Wedoany.com Reported - Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has launched its first hub-and-spoke strategic service, the MA2 route, connecting ports in Spain and West Africa.

The MA2 route operates with five feeder vessels between Algeciras (where HMM has a terminal) and Tangier, Dakar, Tema, Lekki, and Abidjan.

The hub-and-spoke model enhances service efficiency by using large vessels as deep-sea hubs and feeder vessels to connect port networks.

An HMM spokesperson told The Loadstar that MA2 aims to separate calls at congested West African ports to improve the schedule reliability of ultra-large vessels on the Far East-India-Mediterranean route. She added that by segregating the highly congested West African port segment, the punctuality of large vessels is improved, and the order of port calls in the feeder network can be flexibly adjusted. HMM plans to continue expanding large vessel and feeder connection services, focusing on major global hub ports to strengthen its hub-and-spoke strategy.

HMM stated that long-term investments in West African deep-water ports, such as the Lomé Container Terminal in Togo, have enabled the hub-and-spoke model, allowing carriers to efficiently serve the entire region from a central point and reduce logistics costs.

Since former LX Pantos head Choi Won-hyuk took over as CEO last year, HMM has enhanced its competitiveness by expanding its deep-sea and short-sea networks and strengthening connections to its own terminals. Since 2025, HMM has acquired 27 feeder vessels, including 22 newbuilds.

According to MB Shipbrokers data, container imports to West Africa have grown significantly. Import volume in the first quarter of 2026 increased by 15% year-on-year, with March imports up 8% year-on-year. In 2025, imports grew by 47% compared to pre-pandemic levels and by 22% compared to 2024.