Maersk Ceases Chartering Slots on South America-Europe Service Amid Market Shifts
Maersk appears to have stopped chartering slots on the Eurosal XL/EWX/SWX service, which connects South America and Europe. This route is operated by CMA CGM, Cosco Shipping Lines, and Hapag-Lloyd—services that Maersk inherited through its 2018 acquisition of Hamburg Süd. The route currently links key ports including Rotterdam, London (Gateway), Hamburg, Antwerp, Caucedo, Cartagena, Colon, Buenaventura, Posorja, Callao, San Antonio, and Manzanillo, before returning to Rotterdam.
The decision to cease chartering on this service may reflect broader strategic adjustments by Maersk in response to recent market conditions. Over the past year, the shipping industry has experienced fluctuating demand, rising fuel costs, and shifting trade patterns, prompting many carriers to reassess their fleet utilization and chartering strategies. Maersk could be optimizing its fleet deployment by focusing on routes with higher demand, more favorable economics, or better alignment with their broader network and strategic priorities.
Additionally, the company has been actively restructuring and streamlining its operations to improve efficiency and reduce costs amid a challenging global trade environment. Ceasing chartering slots on certain services might be part of this effort to better match capacity with current market realities and improve overall profitability.
Overall, this move suggests Maersk is adjusting its service portfolio to navigate the evolving shipping landscape, balancing fleet deployment with market demand and strategic growth areas.
