Southern exporters will now have increased choice in getting wares to north Asia destinations, following a partnership announcement between giant French shipping line CMA CGM, which already operates the ANZEX service route, and Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), which joins the ANZEX route.
While southern dairy produce is likely to be targeted by OOCL, it is expected to offer a range of services for all exporters.
Port Otago commercial manager, Peter Brown, said CMA CGM had returned to Port Chalmers in mid-2011 with the ANZEX service, having pulled out its Suez canal service in late-2007. OOCL had not had vessels calling at Port Chalmers in the past and its ship Valdivia was already at sea, on its way to New Zealand. Its inaugural Port Chalmers call was scheduled for January 18.
"For southern exporters, this will open up new opportunities and choices for them," he said yesterday.
The positive announcement for southern exporters comes at a time when market giants Maersk and Fonterra have switched some or all of their allegiance from Ports of Auckland to competitors Port of Tauranga and Port of Napier, a move which has cos Auckland tens of millions of dollars in revenue.
The northern ports' stoush is unlikely to have any impact on South Island services and Maersk remains Port Otago's largest customer.
Inclusion of the OOCL vessel on the ANZEX route would strengthen exporters' choices for north Asia destinations after another shipping line had ceaseed its north Asia service in 2008, Mr Brown said.
Last month Port Otago confirmed it was considering removing two packing sheds from its Boiler Point area to create more space for container storage, but these were in context of a five to 10-year plan.
Mr Brown said Port Otago, which is on the cusp of the height of its exporting season, has the capability of handling existing container volumes and the OOCL visit would have no impact on its other operations.
In a statement, CMA CGM and OOCL said ANZEX was the only service offering direct calls to four New Zealand ports, including two in the South Island, offering exporters several choices and minimising their land-based transport costs.
"This new partnership will allow the group to offer an improved service to its customers in the South Pacific market, with enhanced transit times for New Zealand exporters and extensive coverage of New Zealand ports," Stephane Courquin, CMA CGM vice-president Africa, Indian Ocean and Oceania Lines, said.
By joining forces with CMA CGM to serve this trade corridor, OOCL's services would be upgraded to cover all major New Zealand ports with direct calls in the Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia loops, OOCL managing-director Peter Sutherland said.
"This strategic arrangement will also benefit New Zealand exporters, to minimise their land-based transportation costs," he said in a statement yesterday.
The shipping lines
CMA CGM - founded in 1978 and with 17,000 employees world-wide. Based in Marseille, France, with more than 650 offices and agencies in more than 150 countries. Third largest shipping container line. Regular services using 389 vessels on more than 170 shipping routes; 9 million containers shipped in 2010.
OOCL - Founded 1947. Hong Kong-based with more than 270 offices in 60 countries, with more than 150 vessels encompassing routes around Asia, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
