CMA CGM Launches New Asia–Europe OCR Service, Connecting Japan, Southern China, and the Nordic Region—the Three Core Markets

2026-03-20

A new addition has been made to the Asia–Europe route network. CMA CGM Group recently announced the launch of a brand-new weekly service—Ocean Rise Express (OCR). This service is designed to establish a direct shipping link between Japan, Southern China, and Northern Europe, providing shippers with more efficient and reliable transport solutions.

   According to CMA CGM’s disclosed route plan, the OCR service will be operated with 14 container vessels ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 TEUs, including one 8,000-TEU LNG-powered vessel, reflecting the company’s balanced approach to capacity deployment and green shipping. The service is scheduled to commence its inaugural voyage on April 2.

Route Path: Connecting Core Hubs in East Asia and Europe
   From the perspective of port call sequence, the OCR service will link multiple core hub ports across East Asia and Europe, following the route: Kobe–Nagoya–Yokohama–Xiamen–Yantian–Rotterdam–Hamburg–Southampton–Nansha–Kobe. This route establishes a closed-loop network that covers key markets in Japan, Southern China, and Northern Europe, thereby facilitating the efficient flow of cargo within the region.

Shipping transit time: as fast as 32 days from South China to Northern Europe
   In terms of transit times, CMA CGM has provided competitive estimates: from Yokohama, Japan, to Rotterdam in 38 days, to Hamburg in 41 days, and to Southampton in 45 days; from Yantian, China, to Rotterdam in 32 days, to Hamburg in 35 days, and to Southampton in 38 days. This means that export shipments from South China will benefit from faster direct services to Northern Europe, significantly enhancing transport efficiency.

Strategic Layout: Strengthening the Competitiveness of the Asia-Europe Trade Corridor
   Bo Wegener, CEO of CMA CGM Asia-Pacific, commented on the launch of the new service, stating that the introduction of the OCR route further underscores the strategic priority of Asia–Europe trade within CMA CGM’s global network. He also emphasized that the new service will uphold the company’s ongoing commitment to service reliability, helping customers enjoy a more stable shipping experience on this critical trade corridor.

   In recent years, Asia–Europe trade has been one of the main arteries of global container shipping and the most fiercely contested route among major liner operators. By launching its OCR service, CMA CGM is not only striking a balance between scale and flexibility in capacity deployment but also ensuring balanced port coverage across key regions, with the aim of offering Japanese and South China export firms a more competitive North European gateway. With the inaugural call in early April, the new service’s actual operational performance will undoubtedly become the focal point of market attention.