December 12, 2017 - CMA CGM Group has completed the acquisition of Mercosul Line - one of the leading players in Brazil's domestic container shipping market.
The acquisition of Mercosul Line allows CMA CGM, the second largest container shipping company by vessel capacity, to strengthen its service offering in Brazil, and more broadly in South America, especially in cabotage and 'door-to-door' services.
With more than 12 ports and a fleet of four vessels of 2,500 TEUs, Mercosul Line has filled the increasing demand in Brazilian cabotage services by linking the Manaus Free Trade Zone to the most important Brazilian cities.
Mercosul Line's strategically positioned intermodal terminals connect the port of Santos to the main cities of São Paulo by rail and highway, ensuring the integrity and safety of cargo.
This will help CMA CGM achieve its core strategy by expanding its intra-regional sea transportation links and logistics.
Cabotage also contributes significantly to environmental preservation by transferring the demand of transport of land cargoes to the sea and helping to reduce the levels of pollution.
Established in 1996, Mercosul Line's network includes 130 people in its offices in Santos, São Paulo, Manaus, Recife and Itajai.
With a presence in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay through 18 dedicated offices, CMA CGM Group employs 340 staff members in the East Coast of South America.
More than 71 vessels operate on nine different services and call 20 ports.
Maersk had agreed to sell off Mercosul Line, its Brazillian carrier subsidiary, in order to clear Maersk Line's takeover of Hamburg Süd with the Brazilian competition authorities.
Source: Port Technology International
