HMM launches new container service connecting East Asia, Mexico

HMM’s new container service, the Far East Latin America Express (FLX). [Courtesy of HMM Co.]

South Korea’s largest container shipping line HMM Co. announced on Monday that it is launching a new container service, the Far East Latin America Express (FLX), which connects East Asia with Mexico.

This service will deploy a Panamax-class container ship with a capacity of 4,000 TEU, starting with the first departure from Shanghai, China, on August 16.

HMM will operate this new service jointly with Japan’s Ocean Network Express (ONE). The FLX service will follow a port rotation schedule that includes Shanghai, Busan, Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico, and back to Shanghai.

“The increase in cargo from China to Mexico, driven by nearshoring trends and the concentration of manufacturing facilities close to the United States, prompted the establishment of this new service.

“We expect this expansion to also boost exports, imports, and trans-shipment volumes through Busan Port,” said a company official.