Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 29, CMA CGM has launched a new direct container service between the Port of Gothenburg and Asia, further strengthening trade connections between Sweden and Asian markets. With this addition, Gothenburg now offers three weekly direct services to and from Asia, operated by CMA CGM, Maersk/Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC. This development marks a significant milestone in the port’s history, enhancing its role as a key logistics hub in Northern Europe.

The new route includes calls at major ports such as Ningbo, Shanghai, Yantian, Singapore, Tangier, Dunkirk, Southampton, Gothenburg, Gdansk, Le Havre, and Port Klang before returning to Ningbo. The service enables efficient transportation for both imports and exports, contributing to the optimization of global supply chains.

In 2024, around 700,000 containers were handled between Sweden and Asia, with most transiting through the Port of Gothenburg. Swedish exports mainly consist of forest products such as paper, cardboard, pulp, and sawn timber, along with machinery and industrial components. Rising trade volumes with Asia have positioned the port to potentially achieve a record year in container throughput.

Claes Sundmark, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the Port of Gothenburg, commented: “It is the first time in the port’s 400-year history that we have three direct services to and from Asia, so of course this is both special and exciting – but also logical. Trade between Sweden and Asia has been growing for a long time, and with three weekly calls by three different shipping companies, the conditions for continued growth have never been better.”

The launch of CMA CGM’s service follows a series of major developments at the port. Earlier this spring, MSC introduced its own direct line to Asia, while Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd adjusted their Gemini cooperation by replacing smaller shuttle vessels between Gothenburg and Bremerhaven with larger mainline ships. This shift designated Gothenburg as the new European starting and ending point for their Asia service.

Now, CMA CGM has become the third major shipping company or alliance in a short period to select the Port of Gothenburg as its Nordic hub for direct Asia-bound operations. The container terminal at the port, operated by APM Terminals (APMT), handles these new services, providing high efficiency and reliability for global shipping companies.

The growing number of direct connections between Gothenburg and Asia reflects Sweden’s expanding trade ties and the port’s strategic role in facilitating international logistics. Enhanced connectivity shortens transit times, improves supply chain stability, and reduces the need for transshipment via continental ports.

Earlier this summer, the Port of Gothenburg also renewed agreements with Inter Terminals Sweden, one of its key partners in the energy sector. The combination of growing trade volumes, new direct routes, and long-term industry partnerships highlights the port’s continued evolution into a leading maritime gateway for Northern Europe’s international commerce.