FRANCE : Hong Kong: CMA CGM and Delmas have announced a new direct weekly service on the Asia-Africa route called “New Africa Express” (AFEX) service.

Following a growing trend of trades between South Asia and West Africa, especially Chinese exports to Africa, the new service will start from July 24 and cover the Group’s South China-West Africa network. Ten vessels ranging from 4,000 to 4,500 TEUs will be deployed on the service, two from CMA CGM and eight from Maersk under a Vessel Sharing Agreement.

The service loop will be Yantian – Nansha - Tanjung Pelepas - Port Kelang (West Port Terminal) – Cape Town - Pointe Noire (Congo Terminal) - Tema (MPS) - Capetown – Yantian.

According to a UN report, trade volume between China and Africa reached US$166.3bn in 2011, a growth of 31%, and China’s exports to Africa increase by 22% to US$73.1bn in the same year.