Hapag-Lloyd and ZIM Launch New East Coast South America Service, Vietnamese Exporters May Benefit from Expanded Asian Transshipment Network
According to reports from Lloyd’s List and several other industry media outlets, Hapag-Lloyd recently announced that it will partner with ZIM to launch a new Asia–East Coast South America service, AS3. The service is scheduled to officially begin on September 13, 2026, operating weekly to strengthen maritime connectivity between major Asian ports and the Brazilian market.
Five Major Chinese Ports Directly Connected to Brazil’s East Coast
According to information released by Hapag-Lloyd, the AS3 service will call at five major Chinese container ports: Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Yantian.
On the South American leg, the service will call at several major Brazilian ports, including Rio Grande, Paranaguá, Itajaí, Santos and Rio de Janeiro.
The full port rotation will be:
Shanghai → Ningbo → Xiamen → Hong Kong → Yantian → Rio Grande → Paranaguá → Itajaí → Santos → Rio de Janeiro
The first westbound sailing is scheduled to depart Shanghai on September 14, 2026, while the first eastbound sailing is scheduled to depart Rio Grande on October 21.
Existing AS2 and ASE Services to Remain Unchanged
It is worth noting that AS3 will not replace the existing services to the east coast of South America. The current AS2 and ASE services will continue operating after the launch of AS3.
Through the new service, Hapag-Lloyd and ZIM will further expand their network between Asia and the east coast of South America, increasing overall service coverage and providing additional shipping capacity.
Meanwhile, ZIM had previously announced the launch of its independently operated ZFS Falcon service. The new service is also scheduled to make its maiden voyage from Shanghai on September 13, deploying 11 vessels ranging from 7,000 to 11,000 TEU. It will replace the existing ASE service currently operated in cooperation with Maersk.
China-Brazil Trade Connectivity Continues to Expand
In recent years, as trade between China and Brazil has continued to grow, South American routes have become a major focus for leading container shipping lines.
In July 2026, Zhejiang Province's first ocean transport corridor to Brazil for breakbulk cargo officially opened. The COSCO Shipping Prosperity departed from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port for the Port of Manaus in Brazil, using a mixed “breakbulk cargo + containers” transportation model.
The corridor currently includes two fixed services: one biweekly service calling at Manaus, and another weekly service calling at Salvador and other ports.
Industry Outlook
The launch of the AS3 service comes at a critical stage in Hapag-Lloyd’s proposed acquisition of ZIM. An inter-ministerial coordination meeting of the Israeli government has been postponed to September 9, and the acquisition still faces a degree of uncertainty.
For Chinese exporters, the addition of AS3 means greater flexibility in securing vessel space. In particular, exporters shipping from South China to Brazil may benefit from more stable weekly services.
Relevant cargo owners are advised to monitor space availability and freight rate movements following the launch of AS3, while also keeping an eye on potential changes in the market structure resulting from the independent operation of the ZFS Falcon service and planning their Q4 shipments in advance.