CMA CGM to split West Africa Express into three loops with new WAX1 and WAX2 from late March

CMA CGM to split West Africa Express into three loops with new WAX1 and WAX2 from late March

CMA CGM will split its Asia–West Africa West Africa Express (WAX) into three dedicated loops, launching two new services—WAX1 and WAX2—alongside the existing WAX3 as part of a reorganization of its Central Range coverage, according to a CMA CGM service update.  The carrier said the restructuring is aimed at improving schedule reliability, reducing transit times and increasing capacity while strengthening connectivity for West Africa’s Central Range markets.  Under the plan, WAX1 will rotate Qingdao–Ningbo–Nansha–Shekou–Singapore–Colombo–Abidjan–Lekki–Kribi–Colombo–Vung Tau, with a first sailing on March 30, 2026 from Qingdao by CMA CGM ZEPHYR.  WAX2 will rotate Qingdao–Ningbo–Nansha–Tanjung Pelepas–Tema–Abidjan–Pointe Noire–Tanjung Pelepas, also starting on March 30, 2026 from Qingdao, using MAERSK CAMPBELL.  WAX3 will continue unchanged on the Singapore–Tanjung Pelepas–Lome–Apapa–Onne–Cotonou rotation. CMA CGM is a France-based global shipping and logistics group. The company states it operates in 160 countries through 400 offices, employs 160,000 people, runs a fleet of more than 650 vessels, serves 420 commercial ports worldwide and operates more than 250 shipping lines. It reports global revenue of $55.5bn for 2024.