Container shipping companies adjust their services in response to market dynamics and operational hurdles. Stay informed of upcoming changes with Kuehne+Nagel's carrier service update, published bi-weekly on Sea News and seaexplorer. 

Changes to alliance networks

This month, two of the major alliances launched their revised 2026 network. The Premier Alliance is implementing a revised service strategy focused on enhancing reliability and concentrating operations at key hub ports, particularly in China. The revised network can be found at this link, as announced by ONE and HMM.

Similarly, Ocean Alliance partners are marking their 10-year anniversary by introducing their updated Day 10 network for 2026. The new network consists of 41 scheduled services across major international trades, intended to match shifting customer demands and market conditions. The details of the new network can be found in this link.

New & updated services

Asia ↔ Oceania

From January 2026, Chinese liner COSCO will introduce a revised port rotation for the CAP service, which operates between Asia and Oceania on an approximately monthly basis. Under the updated schedule, the call at Shanghai will be removed, and a new call at Nansha will be added. In addition, COSCO will increase the number of vessels deployed on the service from two to three.

• Carrier service name: COSCO(CAP)
• Port rotation: Yangpu – Shanghai – Hong Kong – Nansha – Ningbo – Townsville – Brisbane – Lae – Motukea Island – Darwin – Yangpu
• First sailing: Celandine, ETD Port Yangpu on 31 January

Asia ↔ South America

CMA CGM introduced a revised port rotation for the Yuka service earlier this month, which connects the North America East Coast with Central America and the Caribbean. Under the updated schedule, a new call at Barranquilla was added.

• Carrier service name: CMA CGM(Yuka)
• Port rotation: Cartagena (Colombia) – Barranquilla – Kingston – Puerto Cortes – Santo Tomas de Castilla – Houston – Puerto Cortes – Santo Tomas de Castilla – Cartagena (Colombia)
• First sailing: CMA CGM Fort Louis, ETD Cartagena on 2 January.

Asia ↔ West Africa

In late January 2026, MSC implemented a revised port rotation for the IROKO service, which operates between Asia and West Africa. As part of this adjustment, a second westbound call at Cape Town was introduced.

• Carrier service name: MSC(IROKO)
• Port rotation: Ningbo – Nansha – Singapore – Cape Town – Pointe Noire – Cotonou – Apapa – Tin Can Island – Onne – Lobito – Cape Town – Singapore – Xiamen – Ningbo
• First sailing: TBA, ETD Ningbo on 24 January

Indian Subcontinent ↔ Europe

Starting 11 January 2026, CMA CGM introduced a revised port rotation for the MEDEX service, which connects the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East with Europe. Under the new setup, the call at Alexandria was replaced by Port Said, while the calls at Valencia, Barcelona and Fos Sur Mer were removed. In addition, the number of vessels operating on the service was reduced from ten to nine, with an average vessel capacity of 8,500 TEU.

• Carrier service name: CMA CGM(MEDEX)
• Port rotation: Jeddah – Port Said – Piraeus – Marsaxlokk – Genoa – Beirut – Port Said – Jeddah – Abu Dhabi – Jebel Ali – Mundra – Nhava Sheva – Colombo – Jeddah
• First sailing: CMA CGM Mozart, ETD Jeddah on 11 January

Mediterranean ↔ North America East Coast

Starting February 2026, CMA CGM will introduce an updated port rotation for the TUX service, which operates between the Mediterranean and the North American East Coast. Under the revised schedule, the service will include a new call at Salerno, Italy.

• Carrier service name: CMA CGM(TUX)
• Port rotation: Iskenderun - Aliaga - Istanbul Avcilar - Piraeus - Salerno - New York - Norfolk - Savannah - Iskenderun
• First sailing: CMA CGM LAPIS, ETD Iskenderun on 2 February

From early 2026, CMA CGM will introduce an updated port rotation for the Amerigo service, which operates between the Mediterranean and the North America East Coast. Under the revised schedule, the service will include a new call at Fos‑sur‑Mer.

• Carrier service name: CMA CGM(AMERIGO)
• Port rotation: La Spezia – Genoa – Fos‑sur‑Mer – Valencia – Algeciras – Halifax – New York – Norfolk – Savannah – Miami – Algeciras – La Spezia
• First sailing: CMA CGM Endurance, ETD La Spezia on 10 February

North Europe ↔ Mediterranean

As of 12 January 2026, Maersk introduced a revised port rotation for the SLB service, which connects North Europe with the Mediterranean. Under the updated schedule, the call at London Gateway was replaced by Tilbury.

• Carrier service name: Maersk (SLB), Hapag-Lloyd(EME)
• Port rotation: Port Said – Tilbury – Rotterdam – Bremerhaven – Antwerp – Ashdod – Alexandria – Port Said
• First sailing: Vayenga Maersk, ETD Port Said on 12 January

North Europe ↔ North America East Coast

From 6 January 2026, Gemini Cooperation introduced a revised port rotation for the TA3/AL1 service, which connects North Europe with the North American East Coast. Under the updated TA3/AL1 schedule, the call at Baltimore was replaced by a call at Philadelphia.

• Carrier service name: Maersk (TA3),Hapag-Lloyd (AL1)
• Port rotation: Southampton – Rotterdam – Hamburg – Wilhelmshaven – New York – Norfolk – Philadelphia – Saint John – Southampton
• First sailing: Maersk Fredericia, ETD Southampton on 6 January

North Europe ↔ West Africa

Starting 10 January 2026, CMA CGM introduced a revised port rotation for the EURAF1 service, which links North Europe with West Africa. Under the updated schedule, the call at Montoir shifted from weekly to fortnightly. 

• Carrier service name: CMA CGM(EURAF1)
• Port rotation: Le Havre – Montoir (fortnightly) – Tangier – Dakar – Abidjan – Dakar – Tilbury – Dunkirk – Antwerp – Vlissingen – Le Havre
• First sailing: CMA CGM Savannah, ETD Le Havre on 10 January