Maersk Upgrades Asia–West Africa Network to Support Fast-Growing Trade Demand

West Africa Is Rapidly Emerging As One Of The Next Major Growth Engines In Global Trade. No Longer Viewed Only As A Traditional Resource-Exporting Region, West Africa Is Becoming A New Frontier For Manufacturing And Consumer Market Growth, Driven By A Young Population Of Over 400 Million People.
As demand continues to rise, trade volumes between Asia and West Africa have expanded significantly in recent years. In fact, cargo volume on the Far East–West Africa route increased by more than 30% in 2025 compared with 2024, making it one of the fastest-growing global shipping corridors.

For exporters, however, entering the West African market is not always easy. Companies are highly concerned about transit reliability and destination port coverage. Any instability in vessel schedules or transit times can directly affect delivery performance, inventory turnover, and long-term business growth in the region.

To address these challenges, Maersk has announced a comprehensive upgrade of its Asia–West Africa shipping network, aiming to provide customers with more stable, efficient, and reliable ocean freight services.

Dual-Service Network Upgrade For Better Market Coverage

Starting from the second quarter of 2026, Maersk will introduce a new FEW1 service while continuing to operate the existing FEW3 service. The new addition is designed to meet the rapidly increasing market demand across West Africa.

By reducing the number of port calls and optimizing route rotation structures, Maersk aims to simplify operational complexity and improve schedule reliability.

FEW1 Service Rotation
Qingdao – Ningbo – Nansha – Tanjung Pelepas – Tema – Abidjan – Pointe-Noire – Tanjung Pelepas

First sailing: March 29, 2026

FEW3 Service Rotation
Qingdao – Ningbo – Nansha – Shekou – Singapore – Abidjan – Lekki – Kribi – Vung Tau

First sailing: March 30, 2026

Expanded Capacity With Four Direct Services
The introduction of the new service also means additional shipping capacity for the West African market.

As trade demand continues to grow, the expanded network will provide customers with greater space availability, especially during peak seasons, helping businesses maintain more stable supply chain operations.

One of the most notable improvements can be seen in transit times to Tema, an important logistics hub in West Africa.

Transit Time Improvements To Tema
Qingdao → Tema
Transit time reduced from 41 days to 36 days
Savings: 5 days

Ningbo → Tema
Transit time reduced from 35 days to 31 days
Savings: 4 days

Nansha → Tema
Transit time reduced from 30 days to 27 days
Savings: 3 days

Overall, customers can expect transit time savings of approximately 2–5 days. Faster transit not only improves delivery efficiency but can also help reduce costs associated with port congestion and supply chain delays.

Broader West Africa Network Coverage
Maersk's original three direct services will now expand into four direct services across the Asia–West Africa trade lane:

This enhanced network further strengthens overall port coverage between Asia and West Africa.

Additional service rotations include:

Singapore – Tanjung Pelepas – Lomé – Apapa – Onne – Cotonou

Qingdao – Shanghai – Ningbo – Nansha – Tanjung Pelepas – Singapore – Pointe-Noire – Kribi – Luanda – Walvis Bay

Designed For More Reliable Supply Chains
As one of the leading ocean carriers serving the Asia–West Africa market, Maersk continues to optimize its shipping network to support customers with:

More competitive transportation solutions

Improved schedule reliability

Greater supply chain predictability

Stronger support for growing West African trade demand

With West Africa becoming an increasingly important destination for global trade and investment, reliable shipping solutions will play a critical role in helping businesses expand successfully into the region.