HMM expands India-East Africa container network

HMM is expanding its African shipping network with the introduction of a new Gulf-India-East Africa (GIA) container service, which is scheduled to begin operations in September

The new route will link India with key East African markets and represents HMM’s second feeder network serving Africa under its Hub & Spoke strategy. The service will connect East Africa with Nhava Sheva and Mundra, which act as regional hubs for cargo moving from India and Central Asia.

The GIA service will operate on the following port rotation:

Nhava Sheva, India – Mundra, India – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Mombasa, Kenya – Nhava Sheva, India

The first sailing is scheduled to leave Nhava Sheva during the fourth week of September. Five container vessels, each with a capacity of 2,800 TEU, will be deployed on the route.

HMM will operate the service in partnership with COSCO SHIPPING, PIL and INTERASIA LINES. The carriers also plan to extend the service rotation into the Gulf region.

The launch will broaden HMM’s African network alongside its existing West Africa MA2 service. With the addition of Kenya and Tanzania, the company will strengthen its connections to East African markets and their surrounding inland logistics networks.

Dar es Salaam and Mombasa serve as important gateways for East Africa, where investment in port infrastructure and inland logistics is continuing. HMM expects the new service to provide shippers with greater transport convenience and additional shipping options between India and the region.

The GIA service also supports HMM’s wider efforts to expand its presence across African markets and develop its service portfolio in regions with growing trade and logistics requirements.

An HMM official said, “With the introduction of GIA service, HMM anticipates providing our customers with more efficient and reliable sea transportation. We will also continue to expand our presence in these regions and provide an enhanced service portfolio in the future.”