HMM announced on August 5 that it will launch a container service connecting India and East Africa, named GIA (Gulf - India - East Africa Service), starting in September.
The GIA service is the second African branch of the container sector's 'Hub & Spoke' strategy, which has been promoted since the appointment of President Choi Won-hyuk. It will connect East Africa with the Indian and Central Asian cargo hubs of Navashiva and Mundra.
Previously, HMM began a West Africa service (MA2) based in Algeciras, Spain, in July. With the launch of GIA, the company is establishing a network linking East and West Africa.
The first sailing will commence in the fourth week of September from Navashiva, deploying five 2,800 TEU container ships. The ports of call will be Navashiva (India) - Mundra (India) - Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) - Mombasa (Kenya). Four companies, including China's COSCO SHIPPING, Singapore's PIL, and Taiwan's INTERASIA LINES, will operate the service jointly, with plans to expand to the Gulf region in the future.
By launching the East Africa route (GIA) following the North Africa and West Africa routes (MA2) based in Algeciras, HMM is solidifying its long-term network expansion across Africa. Notably, the newly added ports in Kenya and Tanzania are key gateways in East Africa, where port infrastructure and inland logistics development are ongoing, significantly enhancing service convenience for shippers.
As global supply chain uncertainties grow, shippers are increasingly prioritizing stable schedules and diverse destination connectivity. HMM aims to respond flexibly to market changes by building a dense network that combines global services with regional feeder networks based on its Hub & Spoke strategy.
To achieve this, HMM is continuously securing competitive feeder vessels that can synergize with its existing ultra-large ships. Recently, HMM upgraded its mid-to-long-term strategy, announcing plans to expand its container fleet to 1.47 million TEU and 166 vessels by 2030.
An HMM official stated, "The launch of the India-East Africa service marks an important milestone in expanding our Hub & Spoke strategy across Africa. We will continue to enhance our network in high-growth markets and improve customer satisfaction based on differentiated service competitiveness."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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