Hapag-Lloyd has confirmed it will withdraw from the three-carrier vessel-sharing agreement it currently holds with MSC and ONE on the Asia-East Coast South America trade. The service, known as Ipanema by MSC and as SX1 (or previously X1) by ONE, will continue as a joint operation between MSC and ONE once the change takes effect next year.

What Is Changing on the Ipanema Service

The existing VSA linking Hapag-Lloyd, MSC and ONE on the weekly Asia-South America east coast loop will end in its current form. MSC and ONE will take over the service jointly, with MSC saying it remains committed to offering a stable and reliable weekly connection between Asia and the east coast of South America. The first sailing under the new two-carrier structure is scheduled to depart Shanghai on 3 April 2027.

Capacity and Vessel Deployment

Under the present arrangement, the Ipanema service deploys a mix of vessels contributed by all three carriers, with Hapag-Lloyd currently supplying several ships to the rotation. Once Hapag-Lloyd exits, MSC has said it will add vessels to replace that capacity, though it has not disclosed how many ships or how much total capacity will be involved. ONE will continue operating under its SX1 branding and says it remains committed to maintaining weekly sailings on the route.

Port Rotation Stays the Same, For Now

The planned port rotation is expected to remain unchanged: Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Santos, Paranaguá, Navegantes, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Rio Grande, then back through Paranaguá, Navegantes and Santos before returning to Asia. Direct calls at Brazil's Santos, Paranaguá, Navegantes and Rio Grande are set to continue, along with service to Montevideo and Buenos Aires. However, ONE has noted that the rotation is still subject to further operational review, so some adjustments are possible before the April start date.

A Wider Reshuffle on the Asia-South America Trade

This change follows other recent moves on the same trade lane. Maersk and CMA CGM recently ended their own joint service on the Asia-East Coast South America route, with CMA CGM consolidating its capacity with Ocean Alliance partners instead. With its exit from Ipanema, Hapag-Lloyd will be left operating two other services on this trade: one run jointly with Zim, and another where it purchases slots on a Maersk-operated loop. Industry observers have suggested the vessels freed up by Hapag-Lloyd's departure from Ipanema could be redeployed elsewhere on the trade, though no firm plans have been announced.

What This Means for Shippers

For shippers and cargo owners booking on the Asia-East Coast South America trade, the practical port coverage and weekly sailing frequency on the Ipanema/SX1 service are expected to stay the same through the transition, since the rotation itself is not changing for now. However, the shift from a three-carrier to a two-carrier operation could affect which carrier names appear on bookings and bills of lading from April 2027 onward, as Hapag-Lloyd slots are replaced by MSC tonnage. Shippers currently booking through Hapag-Lloyd on this specific service should watch for communications about which alternative service or carrier will handle their cargo after the changeover. Given that similar restructuring is happening across other Asia-South America services this year, cargo owners on this trade lane should expect further announcements about schedules, capacity and routings in the coming months, and should confirm with their carriers or forwarders how any changes might affect transit times or rates on upcoming shipments.

Sources: theloadstar.com, container-news.com, container-news.com, splash247.com