COSCO SHIPPING unveils its new ESA3 service, enhancing logistics between the Far East and South America starting December 2023.
COSCO SHIPPING Holdings has announced the launch of its new Far East-South America East (ESA3) service in December of this year. Positioned as the third dedicated loop in this trade lane, the ESA3 service is designed to increase service frequency and, in combination with complementary feeder services and supply chain solutions, deliver a more efficient and comprehensive end-to-end logistics offering for customers.
The inaugural voyage of the ESA3 service is scheduled to depart from Ningbo on or around 17 December. The port rotation is as follows: Ningbo - Shanghai - Shekou - Singapore - Santos - Navegantes - Montevideo - Buenos Aires - Navegantes - Santos - Coega* - Singapore - Hong Kong* - Ningbo.
(Note: Coega to be confirmed by the end of October; Hong Kong to be confirmed at a later date.)
On the Far East end, the ESA3 service is anchored in East China, South China, and Southeast Asian markets. On the South American end, it delivers comprehensive coverage across the East Coast of South America, with effective reach into Brazil and the Rio de la Plata basin. Capacity to Brazil receives a significant uplift, while service frequency to Argentina and Uruguay is increased, with transit times positioned at the leading edge of the market. The call at Coega will establish a dedicated fast corridor for South African agricultural produce and refrigerated cargo destined for Southeast Asia and China. Through higher frequency, broader geographic coverage, and enhanced schedule reliability - supported by an expanded mainline and feeder network as well as integrated supply chain products - the ESA3 service is positioned to deliver faster, more dependable logistics support for customers' long-term growth.
Feeder and Supply Chain Services
* Connections are available via Santos to feeder services serving North Salvador and Vitoria, as well as via Montevideo to feeder services serving Asuncion.
* In Brazil, 193 standard trucking routes are available, providing full coverage of core ports including Santos, Itajai, and Rio de Janeiro. Trucking services primarily serve the industrial heartlands of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, as well as major agricultural production zones such as Mato Grosso. From Santos, an inland rail corridor connects to interior rail terminals, with short-haul trucking at both ends supporting the export of soybeans, corn, and other agricultural commodities.
* In Argentina, 47 standard trucking routes are available, covering core ports including Buenos Aires and Rosario. Trucking services primarily serve the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area and inland industrial cities such as Cordoba, providing door-to-port and port-to-door inland trucking solutions.
The launch of the ESA3 service represents a further expression of COSCO SHIPPING Holdings' dual-brand commitment to placing customers at the center of every operational decision. Going forward, the service will deliver faster transit times, consistent scheduling, and extensive geographic coverage - reinforcing the company's ambition to be the trusted, long-term partner of choice for customers navigating the demands of global trade.
The seas and mountains are never too far for those who set sail with purpose; with calm waters and open shores, the time to advance is now.
