Hapag-Lloyd, in collaboration with ZIM, will launch a new weekly container service linking Asia and the East Coast of South America—designated the Asia–South America East Coast Service (AS3)—with scheduled commencement in September 2026. This jointly operated service strengthens direct maritime connectivity between major Chinese port gateways and key Brazilian import/export hubs.

The AS3 service provides weekly, end-to-end liner connections between Asia and Brazil, with comprehensive coverage across China’s principal container ports—including Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Hong Kong, and Yantian—and five strategic Brazilian ports: Rio Grande, Paranaguá, Itajaí, Santos, and Rio de Janeiro. Notably, the service enables seamless transshipment access to River Plate ports (including Buenos Aires and Montevideo) via Rio Grande, enhancing regional reach for shippers serving Argentina and Uruguay.

The inaugural port rotation is as follows:  

Shanghai → Ningbo → Xiamen → Hong Kong → Yantian → Rio Grande → Paranaguá → Itajaí → Santos → Rio de Janeiro  

The first westbound sailing from Shanghai is scheduled for 14 September 2026; the first eastbound departure from Rio Grande is planned for 21 October 2026.

Hapag-Lloyd confirms that its existing Asia–South America services—the AS2 and ASE loops—will remain operationally and commercially unaffected by the introduction of AS3, preserving current capacity allocation and schedule integrity.

Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/EdQwujlNXjM7Iz4C1cLTEA