{"id":3266,"date":"2026-06-15T13:46:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T10:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mikhailinvest.com\/msc-boosts-capacity-and-switches-hubs-on-south-asia-services\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T13:46:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T10:46:31","slug":"msc-boosts-capacity-and-switches-hubs-on-south-asia-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mikhailinvest.com\/ru\/msc-boosts-capacity-and-switches-hubs-on-south-asia-services\/","title":{"rendered":"MSC boosts capacity and switches hubs on South Asia services"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"MSC<\/div>\n

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MSC is rebooting its hub operations for the ocean trades in and out of South Asia, industry updates suggest.<\/p>\n

The world\u2019s largest container line is gradually switching its transhipment calls in Sri Lanka from Colombo to Hambantota Port (HIP), a new harbour developed by China Merchants Port Holdings.<\/p>\n

MSC has replaced a regular call at Colombo with HIP on its Far East-South Africa Ingwe service, featuring an updated rotation of Qingdao-Shanghai-Ningbo-Shenzhen (Shekou)-Singapore-Port Louis-Ngqura-Durban-Port Louis-Hambantota-Hong Kong-Tianjin-Qingdao.<\/p>\n

The carrier has also added a 12\u0442<\/sup> vessel to the rotation \u201cto enhance capacity and service reliability\u201d.<\/p>\n

Industry sources said the port substitution would \u201ccement MSC\u2019s position in Asia-South Africa trade\u201d, a corridor on which the Geneva-based liner has increased capacity in recent years, and follows a series of ad-hoc sailings at HIP to \u201ctest the water\u201d.<\/p>\n

In April 2024, HIP, primarily designed as a multipurpose cargo gateway, launched container operations by hosting a call from the MSC Ingrid<\/em>. At the time, CMPort said:\u00a0\u201cWith MSC\u2019s collaborative partnership, HIPG will now look at expanding our investment in equipment and other infra-structure facilities, enabling us to service larger vessels on the east west shipping route.\u201d<\/p>\n

HIP embarked on multiple expansion projects to support regular calls from major container services, including $108m \u00a0on harbour crane upgrades this year, claiming the expansion would almost double HIP\u2019s box capacity, to 2m teu annually.<\/p>\n

\u201cHIP\u2019s location, just 10 nautical miles from the main east\u2013west shipping route, positions it as a reliable and efficient option for shipping lines seeking minimal deviation and operational stability,\u201d the Chinese conglomerate said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Colombo Port has been under capacity pressure for some time, due to additional transhipment demand stemming from geopolitical disruption. Volumes reached a new high last month of 776,261 teu, from 761,096 teu in April, as Middle East-related diversions continued, according to the latest data.<\/p>\n

Competition for transhipment volumes out of the subcontinent region remains fierce, as new port developments take hold in India: Adani Ports\u2019 Vizhinjam is already operating at full capacity, with its phase 2 expansion advanced in order to cope with projected demand.<\/p>\n

Vizhinjam also had record monthly throughput last month, handling 130,863 teu, data shows.<\/p>\n