France-based CMA CGM will begin a new weekly direct container service to South America from the Port of New Orleans on April 21.
CMA CGM’s Brazil Express will function from the Port’s Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, boosting the port’s direct access to ports of call between Mexico and Brazil and adding capacity to the trade lane for shippers.
“The Brazil Express service continues CMA CGM’s expansion in the Gulf region and in New Orleans in particular,” CMA CGM President Marc Bourdon said in a news release. “This service brings direct connectivity with Mexico, Northern South America and Brazil – including a direct call into Manaus – as we look forward to continued growth and cooperation with the Port for the future.”
Port president and CEO Brandy Christian said the new service adds to CMA CGM’s growing presence at the port, with the carrier’s recently initiated direct weekly service to Asia.
CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container carrier, has called at the port since 2009 and presently operates three weekly services, the Med-Americas Service to the Caribbean and South and Central American ports from New Orleans; the Victory Bridge Service to Northern European ports; and the PEX3 service, the direct weekly service to Asia.
The Brazil Express service will contain refrigerated cargo, with 300 refrigerated container plugs assigned per week. The service will call on Altamira, Mexico; Veracruz, Mexico; Kingston, Jamaica; Cartagena, Colombia; Manzanillo, Panama; Manaus, Brazil; Victoria, Brazil; Santos, Brazil; Navegantes, Brazil; Paranagua, Brazil; Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; Salvador Di Bahia, Brazil; and Vila Do Conde, Brazil.
