MOL, MSC and Maersk Line to share vessels on Asia-South America

Two loops are covered under the agreement and will be served by 22 vessels in total. Maersk and MSC are each running six 9,000 teu ships on loop one, with MOL operating 10 5,500 teu ships on the second loop.

"Asia to the East Coast of South America is a key route for the transport of electronics and automobile parts, propelling the automobile industry within Latin America," Maersk Line stated in a press release. "The route also facilitates protein exports from the East Coast of South America to Asia."

Current VSAs on the same routes will expire at the end of June, and the latest will come into force with the first ship's departure from Asia in the first week of July.

Port rotations, subject to berth confirmations, will run as follows:

Loop one: Busan (South Korea) - Shanghai (China) - Ningbo (China) - Chiwan (China) - Yantian (China) - Hong Kong - Singapore - Santos (Brazil) - Parangua (Brazil) - Buenos Aires (Argentina) -Montevideo (Uruguay) - Rio Grande (Brazil) - Paranagua (Brazil) - Santos (Brazil) - Coega (South Africa) - Singapore - Hong Kong - Busan (South Korea)

Loop two: Chiwan (China) - Yantian (China) - Hong Kong - Singapore - Santos (Brazil) - Sepetiba (Brazil) - Itajai (Brazil) - Navegantes (Brazil) - Sao Francisco do Sul (Brazil) - Santos (Brazil) - Sepetiba (Brazil) - Capetown (South Africa) - Durban (South Africa) - Singapore - Chiwan (China)