From 1 October 2025, Maersk will discontinue direct shipments between South Africa and the U.S., moving to a transhipment model that routes cargo through European hubs before reaching U.S. ports. Under the new model, goods will be offloaded in Europe and transferred to another vessel for the Atlantic crossing, which will extend delivery times and increase costs for exporters.
The decision follows Maersk's exit from its co-share agreement with the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) under the AMEX service, which provided joint direct shipments between South Africa and the U.S. This arrangement operated under the now-ended 2M Alliance, which concluded in 2023. Maersk's withdrawal leaves MSC as the only major shipping company offering direct service between South Africa and the U.S. East Coast.
In May, MSC announced plans to increase its capacity on the route by adding four more vessels, bringing its total to eight. The weekly service will operate from Durban, Gqeberha, and Cape Town, calling at New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, and Freeport.
While MSC's expansion may absorb some of the demand, there are concerns about whether it can accommodate all exporters that previously used Maersk. Unathi Sonti, Chairperson of the Maritime Business Chamber, said, "The number one key to all of that would be for time-sensitive sectors. There will now be issues with them not having the weekly shipping line routes directly to the U.S."
Sonti noted that the new routing model could lead to delays, particularly for goods departing from Western Cape ports. The uncertainty in schedules and delivery windows adds to the logistical challenges facing South African exporters, especially those dealing with perishable goods, just-in-time manufacturing, and contracts with strict delivery timelines.
When asked about the potential for government intervention or alternative market solutions, Sonti clarified, "The U.S.A. line is not closed. That line was a partnership between MSC and Maersk, and now you're touching on something else, which is healthy competition."
He also questioned whether MSC's increased capacity would fully offset the loss of Maersk's service. "Now that will leave MSC in a position of being the only one. Even though they have committed to putting in additional resources to continue the line, we don't know what that means in practical terms," he said.
Sonti added that this shift could create opportunities for other international carriers to enter the South Africa–U.S. market, provided there is sufficient and consistent cargo demand. "You don't really want to have a vessel available if it's not going to make economic sense," he said. In the short term, exporters will need to adapt to longer transit times and reduced scheduling predictability.
Source: BusinessTech
