Maersk and CMA CGM are ending their joint operation of the ASAS2 service, which links Asia with the East Coast of South America. The last sailing under the current cooperation will leave Shanghai on 8 December 2026 as voyage 650W, after which the ASAS2 service will be discontinued.

What Is Changing

The ASAS2 service has been run as a cooperation between Maersk and CMA CGM, allowing both carriers to share capacity and coordinate port calls on the Asia–East Coast South America route. Once the final voyage departs Shanghai in December, that joint arrangement will come to an end. Maersk has not indicated any changes to port rotation or scheduling ahead of the final sailing.

Maersk Will Keep the Trade Running Through ASAS

Maersk says it will maintain a presence on this trade lane through a separate service called ASAS, which it will operate and control fully on its own. According to the carrier, the ASAS service will continue to run normally, and customers will still be able to book cargo between Asia and the East Coast of South America without interruption once ASAS2 ends.

Why Maersk Says It Is Making This Move

Maersk has stated that keeping full operational control of the service gives the company more flexibility to manage and adjust it independently, based on customer needs and changing market conditions. By operating ASAS on its own rather than jointly with a partner, Maersk can presumably make scheduling or capacity decisions without needing to coordinate with another carrier.

CMA CGM has not issued its own public comment on the end of the cooperation, and it is not yet clear from available information whether CMA CGM plans to offer an alternative service of its own on this route or rely on slot-sharing or booking arrangements with other carriers.

What This Means for Shippers and Cargo Owners

For shippers and forwarders currently booking cargo on ASAS2, the key date to note is the final Shanghai departure on 8 December 2026. After that, bookings on this specific joint service will no longer be available under the ASAS2 name.

Maersk customers should not see a disruption in service, since the carrier says ASAS will continue to operate on the same trade lane without a gap in coverage. However, shippers who rely on CMA CGM's capacity within the joint service should confirm with their carrier or forwarder how bookings will be handled going forward, since it is not yet clear what alternative arrangement, if any, CMA CGM will offer on this route.

In practical terms, this means double-checking any bookings scheduled around the December transition date, confirming vessel names and voyage numbers with your carrier, and watching for updated rotations or schedules associated with the standalone ASAS service. Shippers should also ask their logistics providers whether rates or transit times on this lane are expected to change once the cooperation ends, since consolidating the service under one carrier could affect available sailings and frequency. As with any service restructuring, it is worth confirming container tracking details and booking confirmations closely during the changeover period to avoid confusion between the outgoing ASAS2 and the continuing ASAS product.

Sources: container-news.com