Asia–Europe routes upgraded once again! ONE has strategically reconfigured its FE1 and FE3 services, enabling direct sailings from Southeast Asia to France.

Ocean Network Express (ONE) recently announced a strategic upgrade to its Asia–Northern Europe service network. Specifically, to ensure schedule reliability on routes transiting the Cape of Good Hope, ONE will optimize and adjust its Far East–Europe Route 1 (FE1) and Far East–Europe Route 3 (FE3), further enhancing the network’s coverage and efficiency in serving the Northwest European market. Both adjustments will take effect in early June 2026.

FE1 route expansion offers direct service to France, with Southeast Asian exports shipping directly to Le Havre.
         The FE1 service has expanded its network coverage by launching a direct route from Southeast Asia to Le Havre, France, replacing the previous call at Algeciras, Spain. Le Havre is France’s largest container port and a key trade gateway in Northwest Europe. Previously, shipments from Southeast Asia to France typically required transshipment in Singapore or were unloaded in Rotterdam or Hamburg before being transported inland to France. With the FE1 service now calling directly at Le Havre, it will provide a new direct link to France for Thailand’s electronics sector and Vietnam’s textile and furniture industries, among others.

         The inaugural voyage on this route is the ONE Hamburg’s V0085W/E service, which departed Laem Chabang Port on June 6 and is scheduled to arrive in Le Havre on July 27. The new port rotation is as follows: Laem Chabang – Gwadar – Singapore – (Cape of Good Hope) – Rotterdam – Hamburg – Le Havre – (Cape of Good Hope) – Singapore – Laem Chabang.

FE3 route optimizes port sequencing, accelerating service to Antwerp and Felixstowe.
         The FE3 service has optimized its port‑calling sequence by reordering European ports, thereby reducing transit times to Antwerp and Felixstowe. The previously scheduled call at Algeciras, Spain, has been eliminated, leaving only three core North-West European ports—Felixstowe in the UK, Antwerp in Belgium, and Hamburg in Germany—reflecting carriers’ strategic reallocation of capacity toward the stable, high‑margin North-West European market.

         Previously, congestion at the ports of Algeciras and Rotterdam had extended transit times by approximately two weeks. With Felixstowe now designated as Europe’s premier port, these issues are expected to ease significantly. The inaugural sailing on this route is the HMM Dublin, voyage V0019W/E, scheduled to depart Qingdao Port on June 11 and arrive in Felixstowe on July 29. The new port rotation is as follows: Qingdao—Ningbo—Yantian—Singapore—(Cape of Good Hope)—Felixstowe—Antwerp—Hamburg—(Cape of Good Hope)—Qingdao.

Demand for Asia–Europe maritime shipping remains robust, and route upgrades align with market growth.
         According to the latest statistics from the Japan Maritime Center, in the first quarter of 2026, Asia’s seaborne container shipments to Europe surged 15.0% year on year, reaching approximately 5.18 million TEUs—exceeding the level of the same period in 2025 and marking a new historical high for that time frame. Specifically, container volumes from Greater China to Europe increased by 17.7%, while those from Southeast Asia grew by 9.1%, reflecting robust regional export growth.

         Against this backdrop, ONE’s strategic upgrade of the FE1 and FE3 services could not have come at a more opportune time. Both routes continue to follow the Cape of Good Hope–rounding route, which has largely achieved regular operation and enjoys high schedule reliability. This adjustment not only enhances schedule reliability but also further strengthens ONE’s service capabilities on the Asia–Europe trunk routes, providing importers and exporters with a more efficient and stable logistics corridor.