Weekly Call to Initiate January 31, 2017

New Orleans— Marseilles, France-based CMA CGM today announced a new direct weekly container service to Asia from the Port of New Orleans Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal. Part of the company’s PEX3 service, the inaugural vessel is scheduled to arrive on January 31 for service by terminal operator Ports America.

“CMA CGM is proud to be expanding our presence in New Orleans, further showing our commitment to the Gulf region, and Louisiana specifically.  We look forward to continued growth in the region, and are pleased to be contributing to the evolution and development of this vital hub. In the U.S., the Group now offers a global coverage with 23 services in and out of North America to over 150 countries around the world” states Marc Bourdon, CMA CGM America LLC President.

The faster transit times provided by the new direct service enhances the Port of New Orleans’ reach for shippers and competitive advantage overall. It also helps both the region and state of Louisiana by serving as a catalyst to attract new business.

“Louisiana is an international gateway for goods bound to and from America’s industrial heartland, and having this new direct service for shippers to vital Asian markets will create greater value for our economy,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “As we see billions of dollars of new industrial investments being made in Louisiana, strategic shipping services by CMA CGM and others will enhance existing import-export operations while making our state even more desirable for foreign direct investment projects.”

CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container carrier, has called at the Port of New Orleans since 2009 and currently operates two weekly services, the Med-Americas Service to the Caribbean and South and Central American ports from New Orleans and the Victory Bridge Service to Northern European ports.

“CMA CGM’s new direct Asia container service will enhance the competitiveness of the Port of New Orleans and Louisiana by providing faster transit times and expanding the port’s reach for shippers,” said incoming Port President and CEO Brandy Christian. “Initiating this service from New Orleans accomplishes a strategic goal for the port and will serve as a catalyst to attract new business to the region. We look forward to working with CMA CGM to ensure the service’s success.”

The new service offers a 26-day transit time from Asia to New Orleans, which positions the Port to grow the recently opened Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal’s service to key markets such as Memphis, TN; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Indianapolis, IN and Toronto, which are all serviced daily by CN Railroad. The direct service also adds capacity and reliability for exporters and is strategically timed to serve the surge in resin exports in 2017.

Inbound Service
Trade Lane / Transit Time
Pusan, Korea to New Orleans  /  26 Days
Shanghai, China to New Orleans  /  28 Days
Ningbo, China to New Orleans  /  29 Days
Chiwan, China to New Orleans  /  31 Days
Hong Kong to New Orleans  /  32 Days
Singapore to New Orleans  /  36 Days

Export Service
Trade lane / Transit Time
New Orleans to Singapore  /  38 Days
New Oleans to Hong Kong  /  43 Days
New Orleans to Chiwan, China  /  44 Days
New Orleans to Ningbo, China  /  46 Days
New Orieans to Shanghai, China  /  47 Days
New Orleans to Pusan, Korea  /  49 Days