Evergreen Marine will expand its container shipping services to Latin America and the Middle East over the next five years, as growth shifts from the US to secondary ocean trades, reported New York’s Journal of Commerce.
The Taiwan-based carrier plans to increase vessel deployment on the Asia-Latin America trade and introduce 12,000-TEU ships on the Asia-West Coast South America route, said Wilson Chen, head of Evergreen’s project division. Additional capacity will be added between Europe and Mexico, and from Asia to the Caribbean.
Evergreen’s total fleet capacity is expected to grow 29 percent to 2.5 million TEU by the end of 2029.
Figures from MDS Transmodal show Evergreen is the third- Larger carrier on the China-Latin America trade, though its second-quarter capacity fell to 500,000 TEU from 513,000 TEU a year earlier.
In 2027, Evergreen will reinforce Middle East connections with Asia, India, East Africa and the Red Sea region.
It will also expand links between central China and the Philippines.
A new North China-Indonesia Manila service has launched, with calls at Dalian, Xingang, Surabaya and Jakarta.
Larger 3,000-TEU ships will be deployed in the Caribbean Sea by 2030, alongside a broader Mediterranean network.
Despite expansion plans, Evergreen’s operating revenue fell 13 percent year over year to US$8.6 billion in the first eight months of 2025, including a 39 percent drop in August, according to filings to the Taiwan stock exchange.
South African trade falls, shipping lines cut services
Several major shipping lines have suspended or reduced services to and from South Africa as the global economic downturn
continues to impact sea freight volumes, reports South Africa’s Freight News.
The SA-Europe Container Service (Saecs), which includes Maersk Line, Mitsui OSK Lines, Safmarine and Deutsche Afrika Linien, began scaling back in September by removing three vessels from its intermediate service. Maersk Line and Safmarine have now suspended their Far East-SA ‘Safari 2’ loop, which operated six ships of 4 700 TEU capacity.
Maersk continues its ‘Safari l’ loop with seven ships of four 800 TEU and has added a Port Elizabeth call.
It also maintains Far East-SA coverage via its FE- Durban-East Coast South America and FE-West Africa services.
Maersk South Africa managing director David Williams said the move reflects broader industry trends amid the global downturn.
Mitsui OSK Lines has discontinued its ‘Zax’ Durban-Maputo Asia service.
Marketing team leader Andrew Weiss said the company will now use its ‘WA 1’ West Africa service, which will call at Durban and Maputo en route to Singapore.
Hamburg Sud is also cutting back.
South Africa general manager John Blessing ton said freight rates and volumes have dropped sharply.
Blessing ton said Hamburg Suid and Aliania reduced weekly capacity between Asia and South Africa, and Asia and the East Coast of South America, by 2,100 TEU from December 11 to January 8 and again from February 20 to March 27.
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Evergreen Marine have not made any changes to their South African services, according to company sources.
Freight News contacts estimate export volumes have dropped by more than 40 percent, while imports are down by over 30 percent.
Port of Vancouver handled a record 85 million tonnes of cargo
The Port of Vancouver handled a record 85 million tonnes of cargo in the first half of 2025, up 13 percent year-on-year, driven by surging exports of Canadian crude, grain, potash and canola oil, reported the American Journal of Transportation.
International trade through the port rose nearly 20 percent, with container volumes steady and cruise and auto traffic easing from container volumes steady and 2024 highs.
More than 80 percent of the port’s trade was with countries other than the US.
Crude oil exports surged 365 percent to nearly 12 million tonnes, boosted by Trans Mountain’s expanded pipeline and terminal.
China received 60 percent of these volumes, with other markets including South Korea, Singapore and Japan surpassing 2024 totals early.
Canola oil exports rose 72 percent to 0.7 million tonnes, with market expansion from four countries in 2024 to 12 in 2025.
New destinations included Belgium, Malaysia and Mexico.
Grain exports climbed eight percent, with wheat up 16 percent and canola seed up 12 percent.
Potash rose 26 percent, sulphur five percent, while coal dipped two percent.
New grain markets helped offsets Chinese tariffs.
The port’s Active Vessel Traffic Management Programme and CN’s 10 percent rail service increase supported expanded volumes.
Roberts Bank Terminal 2 is in annual trade capacity.
Container terminals moved 1.88 million TEU, the second highest mid-year volume after 2021.
Xotta said containerised trade showed resilience amid US tariffs and global uncertainty.
Cruise calls fell to 130 with 500,000 passengers, down from 2024’s record but still strong.
Canada Place remains a top homeport, injecting about US$3 million per ship visit into the local economy.
Auto imports fell three percent to 241,000 units, the third highest on record.
Nearly all Asian-made vehicles enter Canada via Vancouver.
Annacis Auto Terminal’s capacity was increased by one-third earlier this year.
Foreign breakbulk volumes fell eight percent due to a shift to containers and lower metal imports.
Domestic cargo, mainly logs, sand and gravel, also declined.
MSC names LNG-fuelled pair at Chinese yard
China’s Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard has named two new LNG dual-fuel containerships for MSC, each with a capacity of 11,500 TEU, reported Sarajevo’s LNG Prime.
The vessels, MSC Serena and MSC Aliana, are the fifth and sixth in a series of 11,500-TEU LNG dual- fuel ships built for MSC.
MSC Serena was also delivered to the owner during the ceremony.
Prior deliveries from the yard include MSC Insa, MSC Leila, MSC Edna and MSC Adele.
All vessels are classed by DNV.
Each ship measures 335 metres in length and 45.6 metres in width, with a design speed of 20 knots.
They are equipped with type C LNG fuel tanks enabling round trips on China-Europe or China-US routes.
The vessels were designed by CIMC ORIC, a unit of China International Marine Containers.
CIMC holds a stake in Zhoushan Changhong through its leasing arm.
Zhoushan Changhong previously confirmed that MSC has 36 LNG dual-fuel vessels on order at the yard.
Port project worth $1.76 billion approved by Vietnam
Vietnam’s Da Nang People’s Committee has approved the investment policy for the Lien Chieu container port, a deep-water facility designed to handle ships of up to 18,000 TEU, reported Saint Petersburg’s Port News.
The project will cost an estimated VND45.268 trillion (US$1.76 billion) and includes eight berths along a 2,750-metre quay.
Construction is scheduled from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2036.
At full capacity, the port will handle 5.7 million TEU annually, or about 74 million tonnes.
Interim throughput by 2030 is projected at 14.25-36.3 million tonnes.
The port will span 172.6 hectares, including 147 hectares of land and 25.7 hectares of water.
Facilities will include a barge berth for vessels up to 5,000 tonnes, container yards, inspection areas, repair workshops, offices, and a direct rail link via Kim Lien Station.
Financing will combine VND9.053 trillion in investor equity with credit institution support.
Investor selection will be conducted through competitive bidding.
Phase 1, running from 2025 to 2028, requires completion of at least two terminals and supporting logistics infrastructure.
A separate publicly funded package, Component A, began construction in 2022 and is due to finish by end-2025.
Vietnam’s prime minister called Lien Chieu “a very strategic position for logistics” during a 2024 site visit.
City officials say the port is key to Da Nang’s green and automated operations strategy.
A consortium including Hateco Group JSC, Hateco Seaport Co, Ltd, and APM Terminals BV submitted a proposal in May 2025.
No investor has yet been selected, and the project remains open to tender.
ONE Innovation sets record in Singapore for lifting
Ocean Network Express (ONE)has set a new world record for container loading with its 24,136-TEU ONE Innovation, which loaded 22,233 TEU at Singapore, reported Mumbai’s Maritime Gateway.
The feat marks the highest number of containers ever loaded on a single containership.
The vessel departed Singapore and is en route to Felixstowe via the FE4 shipping route.
ONE Innovation was built by Japan Marine United Corporation’s Kure Shipyard and delivered in 2023.
It is the company’s first 24,000-TEU class vessel and the largest in its fleet, measuring 400 metres.
The new record surpasses ONE’s previous milestone of 22,000 TEU set in December 2023 by the same vessel.
Earlier, the ONE Integrity had set a record of 21,954 TEU in November 2023.
Operating on the Premier Alliance’s Asia to Europe FE3 service, ONE Innovation is the first of six 24,000+ TEUers to join the fleet.
Ocean Network Express, formed in 2017 from the merger of “K” Line, MOL and NYK, runs over 260 ships and ranks sixth globally among container carriers.
China backs green shipping at London forum
LONDON China’s COSCO Shipping Group and the China Classification Society co-hosted a forum during London International Shipping Week to promote green and smart solutions for a safer, more sustainable shipping industry, reports China Daily.
The event drew more than 150 participants and featured remarks from Wang Qi, minister and charge d’affaires at China’s embassy in the United Kingdom.
He highlighted China’s commitment to global maritime governance and its decision to establish a permanent mission to the International Maritime Organization.
Mr Wang said China will seek reelection as a category-A member of the IMO Council and pledged continued support for unified maritime rules under the Global Governance Initiative.
He called green shipping a shared responsibility for humanity and urged international cooperation.
Zhu Bixin, director and president of COSCO Shipping Group, said the company is integrating ESG principles across its operations.
As of 31 December 2024, COSCO operated 1,535 vessels with a combined capacity of 130 million deadweight tons, serving over 150 countries and 1,500 ports.
Mr Zhu said COSCO is expanding its fleet with low-carbon ships, including 12 methanol dual-fuel container vessels that cut carbon dioxide emissions by up to 15 percent.
He outlined support for the IMO’s net-zero framework, investment in green energy, and digital innovation.
Arsenio Dominguez, secretary general of the IMO, said industry- wide collaboration and policy support are essential for advancing green and smart shipping.
He stressed that transformation will require joint efforts from companies, ports, regulators and other stakeholders.