Freight forwarders in South Africa are facing uncertainty over the future of direct weekly sailings to the U.S., known as the American Express (Amex) service. This service, a collaboration between Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has been operational since 2019, offering guaranteed weekly connections between the U.S. East Coast and various South African ports.
The dissolution of the 2M alliance between MSC and Maersk in February has sparked concerns about the continuity of the Amex service. A forwarder, who requested anonymity, stated that Maersk initially assured that the Amex service would persist, alleviating concerns for shippers and their agents. However, MSC reportedly announced the service's termination by October 1, 2025.
Maersk later indicated that its Amex rotations would be incorporated into vessel-sharing services through its new Gemini Cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd, which replaced the 2M alliance. This shift to Gemini sailings, which will transit via Western Europe, has not eased concerns. Terry Gale, chairperson of Exporters Western Cape, confirmed this after a meeting with Maersk, highlighting that transhipping through congested European ports would increase waiting times for imports and exports. He mentioned ports like Algeciras, Rotterdam, and London Gateway as struggling with congestion.
Gale expressed concerns ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's trade talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing the importance of maintaining direct sailings to the U.S. He stated, "The direct sailings we have are a major benefit and should be sustained. One can only hope that, depending on what happens on Wednesday, we will see developments in the right direction." However, he criticized the lack of official communication from Maersk and MSC, stating, "We need to know. It's unacceptable that we are kept in the dark like this."
The forwarder echoed this sentiment, noting the absence of concrete plans from the shipping lines and the need for clients to prepare for potential transhipments via ports like Algeciras. An independent confirmation regarding MSC's potential announcement of a direct weekly service to the U.S. remains unverified, as Maersk currently handles the majority of Amex service loads.
Gale concluded by emphasizing the significance of the Ramaphosa-Trump talks, stating, "We're playing a waiting game at the moment, but it would be nice of the shipping lines to let us know what they're planning to do."
Source: Freight News