ZIM and 2M expand cooperation to trades between Asia and Pacific Northwest, Med

The expansion of the cooperation between the world’s two largest container lines and the Israeli carrier covers three 2M services and one jointly operated by ZIM and the alliance.

One service between Asia and the Pacific will be operated jointly with ZIM contributed four vessels and Maersk and MSC three vessels. The other Asia – Pacific Northwest service will remain fully operated by 2M with the parties swopping slots. On the Asia – Med trade the 2M Alliance partners will allocate some slots to ZIM on two services.

The service changes are expected to start in March subject to regulatory approval.

The new services builds on an agreement which started in September last year that saw the two parties cooperating five services between Asia and the US East Coast with four loops operated by 2M and one by ZIM with the line swapping slots on all the loops.

Read more: 2M Alliance in cooperation with ZIM on Asia - US East Coast trade

“Having successfully implemented our strategic cooperation, we are very pleased to expand the partnership with ZIM into additional geographies. This agreement delivers mutual benefits to both parties, for Maersk it provides operational efficiencies that will enable our continued drive to deliver competitive and reliable products for our customers in the world’s most comprehensive East-West network,” said Søren Toft, coo, AP Moller - Maersk.

The agreement was heralded as a “game changer” by ZIM president & ceo Eli Glickman, supporting both its growth and profitability.

“The new strategic agreement means faster and more efficient service with better geographic coverage and extended direct port calls for the benefit of our customers, in line with our vision to provide best-in-class service,” he said.