COSCO SHIPPING Holdings launches ESA3, a new weekly service connecting the Far East with South America's East Coast, starting December 17, 2026.
COSCO SHIPPING Holdings announced ESA3, a new weekly container service linking the Far East with South America's East Coast (ECSA). The service will begin its first voyage from Ningbo on or around December 17, 2026. ESA3 will be the company's third service on this trade, increasing sailing frequency and providing cargo owners with more reliable, efficient options between Asia and South America.
ESA3 will operate on the following port rotation: Ningbo - Shanghai - Shekou - Singapore - Santos - Navegantes - Montevideo - Buenos Aires - Navegantes - Santos - Coega - Singapore - Hong Kong - Ningbo. The Coega call in South Africa depends on terminal confirmation, which is expected in October. The company will review the Hong Kong call during the service's second cycle.
In Asia, ESA3 serves the East China, South China, and Southeast Asia markets. In South America, it covers the full ECSA region, including Brazil and the River Plate area. The service expands capacity in Brazil and increases sailing frequency to Argentina and Uruguay. COSCO SHIPPING Holdings expects ESA3 to deliver market-leading transit times. For shippers managing tight delivery commitments and seasonal demand, more frequent weekly sailings provide additional booking options, reduce exposure to schedule disruption, and support more predictable inventory planning.
Pending terminal confirmation, the call at Coega will create a fast corridor for agricultural products and refrigerated (reefer) containers moving from South Africa to Southeast Asia and China. This link provides exporters of temperature-sensitive cargo with a direct connection to major Asian consumer markets.
Feeder connections extend ESA3 beyond its main ports. A feeder service via Santos reaches Salvador and Vitoria in Brazil. A feeder service via Montevideo reaches Asuncion, Paraguay, giving cargo owners in the landlocked country access to Asia-ECSA trade.
ESA3 is also backed by an integrated inland network. In Brazil, COSCO SHIPPING offers 193 basic trucking routes covering the core ports of Santos, [Atlantis - port name to be verified], and Rio de Janeiro. These routes mainly serve the industrial hinterlands of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, as well as grain-producing regions such as Mato Grosso. Rail services connect the Port of Santos to inland rail terminals, with short-haul trucking at both ends, supporting exports of grain such as soybeans and corn.
In Argentina, the company operates 47 basic trucking routes covering the core ports of Buenos Aires and Rosario. These routes serve the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area and inland industrial cities such as Cordoba, with both port-to-door and door-to-port trucking.
Combined with ocean, feeder, truck, and rail connections, this multimodal network allows cargo owners and their logistics partners to manage shipments from inland origin to final destination through a single carrier network.
The launch of ESA3 reinforces COSCO SHIPPING's customer-centric approach. COSCO SHIPPING Holdings remains committed to faster transit times, reliable schedules, and comprehensive coverage. The company aims to be a trusted, long-term partner as customers grow their businesses between Asia, South America, and Africa.