Hapag-Lloyd and ZIM have announced plans to jointly launch a new Asia–South America East Coast service, known as AS3, on September 13, 2026. The weekly service will call at several major export ports in China and provide direct connections to key ports on Brazil’s east coast, adding another ocean shipping option for China–Brazil trade.

Key Highlights

• AS3 launch: Hapag-Lloyd and ZIM plan to launch the new service on September 13, 2026. 

• Five Chinese ports: The service will call at Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Hong Kong, and Yantian.

• Five Brazilian ports: The rotation includes Rio Grande, Paranaguá, Itajaí, Santos, and Rio de Janeiro. 

• Weekly sailings: The first westbound sailing is scheduled to depart Shanghai on September 14. 

• Existing services unchanged: The current AS2 and ASE services will remain in place, with AS3 added as a new service.

• Additional shipping options: The expanded China–Brazil network will provide freight forwarders and exporters with more routing options.

AS3 to Connect Five Chinese Ports Directly with Brazil from September

According to information released by Hapag-Lloyd, AS3 will call at five major Chinese export ports: Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Hong Kong, and Yantian. It will then sail to the east coast of South America, calling at Rio Grande, Paranaguá, Itajaí, Santos, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The full 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, while the first eastbound sailing is scheduled to depart Rio Grande on October 21. The new service will provide exporters in different parts of China with more port-pair options.

Weekly Service Adds Another Option for China–Brazil Exports

AS3 will operate weekly, strengthening ocean connections between Asia and Brazil. In addition to Santos, the new service will call at Rio de Janeiro, Paranaguá, Itajaí, and other Brazilian ports, providing additional port coverage for cargo destined for different parts of the country.

For freight forwarders and trading companies, the new service expands the available combinations of Chinese ports of loading and Brazilian ports of discharge. Rio Grande can also provide onward connections to markets in the River Plate region. Once the service begins, actual space availability, sailing schedules, and port operations will need to be monitored.

AS2 and ASE Remain Unchanged as South America East Coast Network Expands

AS3 will not replace the existing services. Hapag-Lloyd and ZIM’s current AS2 and ASE services will remain unchanged. The addition of AS3 will therefore expand the overall Asia–South America East Coast network rather than modify the existing services.

Trade between China and Brazil has continued to grow in recent years, while the east coast of South America has become an important market for liner operators. The addition of AS3 will further expand ocean shipping connections between China and Brazil. After the service begins in September, exporters and freight forwarders can compare sailing schedules, space availability, port coverage, and shipping costs across the available services to select the option best suited to their cargo.

Source Note

This article has been compiled from publicly available information released by Hapag-Lloyd, ZIM, and other industry sources. It is provided solely for industry reference. Please refer to the carriers’ latest notices for specific sailing schedules, space availability, and port rotations.