Shipping Lines Restructured Asia to South America Routes
Major carriers are realigning shipping loops, resulting in a reduction of weekly capacity from Asia to South America.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Transportation
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Maersk and CMA CGM have ended their joint ASAS2/SEAS3 shipping service as part of a broad restructuring of trade routes to East Coast South America. This shift, which follows other recent carrier exits, is set to reduce nominal weekly shipping capacity from Asia by approximately 4%.
Why it matters
The realignment allows carriers to consolidate alliance memberships and optimize network coverage, but the changes leave shippers facing tighter space and potential cargo rollovers on key routes.
The restructuring includes a 4% decrease in nominal weekly shipping capacity from Asia. Carriers are reallocating vessels, including 14,000 TEU ships to the AS3/ZFS route and 6,600 TEU ships to the SX2 loop.
The players
Maersk
This global shipping and logistics company manages a vast network of maritime routes and container terminals.
CMA CGM
This French container transportation and shipping company is a major player in the global maritime logistics sector.
Zim
This international cargo shipping company operates a fleet of container ships across global trade routes.
PIL
Pacific International Lines is a shipping company based in Singapore that serves various international ports.
Yang Ming
This Taiwan-based ocean transportation company provides global shipping services and container logistics.
The details
Carriers are shifting port calls and reallocating vessels among various consortiums, with Maersk remaining the sole operator on the ASAS loop. CMA CGM is relaunching its SEAS 2 and SEAS A loops, while other lines like PIL and Yang Ming have exited the Ocean Alliance ECSA consortium.
Timeline
Zim exited Maersk's ASAS loop in September 2026.
The final sailing of the ASAS2/SEAS3 service departs Shanghai on December 8, 2026.
New loop rotations are scheduled to begin in December 2026.
Shipping capacity is expected to remain constrained through the first quarter of 2027.
Market Landscape
This service realignment marks a departure from the Ocean Alliance ECSA consortium membership agreements as carriers reorganize their service loops. These shifts highlight a competitive move by operators to consolidate control over specific trade rotations and adjust vessel capacity in a volatile global market.
Shippers and business clients should expect reduced space and potential delays in moving goods from Asia to South American destinations like Santos and Rio de Janeiro. Increased cargo rollovers may necessitate advanced planning to manage the constrained capacity expected through the early part of 2027.
The takeaway
The shipping industry is currently prioritizing network consolidation over total volume capacity to manage operational costs. Businesses relying on these trade lanes should account for tighter competition for available vessel space in their supply chain forecasts.
Further reading
For broader context on international logistics, see the Transportation section.
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