HMM moves into Chinese market

Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) is launching into the Chinese market to enlarge the Southern China service, thanks in part to China's entering the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The New World Alliance group, composed of APL, MOL and HMM, decided to add one more calling in Xiamen, an emerging new port in southern China.

The New World Alliance group will deploy eight 4,000 to 5,000 TEU vessels from January 5th, 2002, calling in Shanghai - Xiamen - Yantian - Hong Kong - Singapore - Colombo - Southhampton - Antwerp - Bremerhaven - Rotterdam - Aden - Singapore - Hong Kong - and Shanghai on a weekly fix-day service.

Xiamen, a newly introduced port in this service, is a hub port in southern China where cargoes increased 27% to 1.08 million TEU in 2000 over 1999 and also grew by 19.3% to 610,000 TEU in the first half this year compared to the same period of last year.

HMM is linking main ports such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Qingdao, Ningbo, and Xiament in China with European ports, creating 27 services in the route.

It also established new agencies in Wuhan and Chongqing to support Chinese inland cargo services and is also pushing for two new agencies and 14 branches to carry 620,000 TEU from these areas.

HMM said, "This service is the first service to expand since China entered the WTO. We are planning to work hard in these services."