AEX1 Far East service returns to Antwerp
The AEX1 Far East service operated by China Shipping, which several years ago called weekly at Antwerp, is now returning to the port. AEX1 currently calls at Felixstowe, Hamburg and Rotterdam. Antwerp is being added to the AEX1 loop in order to make up for the withdrawal of the AEX2 service operated by Evergreen, Zim and China Shipping, which will cease operation next month, said in the press release.
Antwerp will be served weekly, with the full rotation being Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Felixstowe, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Nansha and Shanghai. The first ship, the Xin Ya Zhou, is expected in Antwerp on 17 July. China Shipping will initially put on six units of 8,500 to 9,500 TEU, while Zim will contribute three units of 10,060 TEU. China Shipping will subsequently replace the smaller vessels one by one with units of 10,000 TEU.
China Shipping Agency is satisfied that it has been able to convince its headquarters to include Antwerp in the rotation once more. “We count on an undiminished presence in Antwerp, with yet more possibilities for the hinterland”, says Jos van Hasselt, general manager of China Shipping Agency Belgium. The Port Authority for its part is particularly pleased with this decision. “For a shipping company to once more opt for Antwerp demonstrates that people overseas too are convinced of the advantages of our port, which is accessible even to the largest container carriers. And with this additional Far East service we will further develop our market share in China,” declared Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO of Antwerp Port Authority.
