Hapag-Lloyd Stands Alone in West Africa Service

German liner company Hapag-Lloyd informed that it would launch an improved service between West Africa and Northern Europe effective August 10.

The company will venture out alone as its joint partner from Japan MOL pulled back from the service, but keeping its own service from Asia to West Africa. The two carriers had six 2,500 teu vessels servicing the West Africa and Northern Europe route.

Hapag-Lloyd’s new West Africa Express service (WAX) would provide “highly competitive transit times to and from key markets”, the company said, referring to a 13 day-trip from Antwerp to Dakar, and from Abidjan to Antwerp in only 11 days.

“The improved service will be the only direct full container service from Hamburg and neighboring countries to West Africa. Furthermore, Hapag-Lloyd will offer this service as a standalone solution with high reliability and multiple connections to its comprehensive global service network at major transshipment ports,” the company added.

The future port rotation will be Antwerp – Hamburg – Algeciras – Dakar – Tema – Abidjan – Antwerp.

“Within the last years we have seen continuous growth from and to West Africa due to rising investments, growing import and export volumes as well as an increased demand for selected products from West Africa. We are absolutely confident that, with the new service, Hapag-Lloyd offers its customers an excellent and competitive product from and to this emerging market”, says Michael Pradel, Managing Director Region Europe of Hapag-Lloyd.

The first sailing of the new service is set to depart from Antwerp on August 10 followed by Hamburg on August 12.