Alphaliner reports that the China-South Africa container shipping service structure, previously comprising five carriers and two loops, is undergoing significant adjustments. These changes are prompted by the launch of Evergreen’s SAF service and PIL’s UBX service.

The existing network, which currently includes Cosco Shipping Lines, Gold Star, ONE, Evergreen, and PIL, is expected to continue operations but without Evergreen and potentially without PIL. This will necessitate a revision of service coverage among the remaining partners along this trade lane.

Consequently, the ZAX2/SA2/SAS service, operated by COSCO Shipping Lines (including its affiliate OOCL), Gold Star Line, and Ocean Network Express, will modify its port rotation. Kaohsiung, Xiamen, and Nansha will be removed from this loop. The revised ZAX2/SA2/SAS service will now call at Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen (Shekou), Hong Kong, Singapore, Durban, Cape Town, Singapore, before returning to Qingdao.

In parallel, the ZAX3/SA1/SAC service will drop Qingdao from its rotation while incorporating Xiamen and Nansha. The updated rotation for the ZAX3/SA1/SAC service will cover Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Nansha, Singapore, Durban, Singapore, and will then return to Shanghai.

These network restructuring measures underscore the dynamic shifts in carrier alliances and capacity deployment strategies as operators continually refine their service portfolios across the Asia-South Africa trade corridor.

China–South Africa service network reshaped after Evergreen and PIL exit