Maersk Line said this week it is reinstating an Asia/Europe loop it temporarily pulled in October to account for a downturn in demand.
The carrier's AE9 service will restart Dec. 17, but with an amended rotation that changes the Asia focus from Southeast Asia to northern China.
Gone are calls at Laem Chabang and Port Klang, with calls added at Xingang and Qingdao. Maersk said the omitted Southeast Asia calls will be covered "with a comprehensive feeder setup via Tanjung Pelepas, with two sailings (weekend and midweek) from Laem Chabang," while Port Klang direct service to Northern Europe will be covered by Maersk's AE8 service.
The new rotation will be Xingang, Qingdao, Tanjung Pelepas, Colombo, Zeebrugge, Felixstowe, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Tangier, Salalah, Colombo, Tanjung Pelepas and Xingang.
Between the China and European calls, the revised service will be heavy on transshipment hubs. According to Francis Phillips of American Shipper research affiliate ComPair Data, westbound transit times will be improved from the previous version of the AE9, though eastbound transit times will be slower.
"The eastbound rotation calls at Tangier and Salalah, as well as Colombo and Tanjung Pelepas, so it is likely this loop leaves North Europe with a high proportion of cargo for North Europe/Med, for North Europe/Mideast/East Africa, and for North Europe/India Subcontinent, and it will reload along the way with cargo for North China," Phillips said.
Also of note, it appears Maersk will use more and larger vessels on the service as it flows in 8,500-TEU vessels beginning in mid-January.