France’s CMA CGM is filling a gap linking the world’s third largest economy with the continent of Europe, launching Ocean Rise Express (OCR), a new weekly direct service linking Japan and South China straight to North Europe, offering what the carrier says are the best transit times and improved schedule reliability on a key East-West tradelane. 

Fully operated by CMA CGM – without its Ocean Alliance partners – with a string of 14 7,000 to 10,000 teu vessels, the service will call Kobe, Nagoya, Yokohama, Xiamen, Yantian, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Southampton and Nansha, with the inaugural sailing from Kobe on April 2 aboard CMA CGM Byblos.

From Yokohama, transit times to Rotterdam, Hamburg and Southampton are quoted at 38, 41 and 45 days respectively; from Yantian the service offers 32, 35 and 38 days. By avoiding transhipment and keeping cargo on single‑ship strings, CMA CGM aims to lower risk of loss, boost on‑time performance and accelerate time‑to‑market for shippers. The loop will transit via the Cape of Good Hope and appears to be serviced solely by CMA CGM tonnage, suggesting operation outside existing alliance structures.

Bo Wegener, CEO, CMA CGM Asia Pacific, said: “The launch of Ocean Rise Express highlights the strategic importance of Asia‑Europe trade within CMA CGM’s global network. The enhanced Asia‑Europe connectivity underscores our commitment to delivering greater value and reliability to our customers, while further strengthening our position as a trusted partner in global trade.”

The move comes as Japan’s Ocean Network Express discontinues its direct Japan-Europe pendulum, meaning Japanese shippers faced transhipping to get their goods to Europe.