1. Matson
● Fast transit time: Its CLX route from Shanghai to Long Beach, Western U.S., takes an average of 10-11 days, making it one of the fastest transpacific routes from China to the U.S. West Coast.
● Terminal advantage: Owns exclusive terminals, ensuring strong control over container loading/unloading with high efficiency. There is no risk of port congestion or ship delays during peak seasons, and containers can generally be picked up the next day throughout the year.
● Route limitations: Only serves the Western U.S., with a single route. Goods from all over China need to be loaded at East China ports such as Ningbo and Shanghai.
● Higher prices: Shipping costs are higher than those of regular cargo ships.
2. Evergreen Marine (EMC)
● Guaranteed pickup service: Has exclusive terminals. HTW and CPS routes offer guaranteed pickup services and can provide space for battery cargo.
● Stable transit time: Stable transit time under normal conditions, with an average (sea route time) of 13-14 days.
● South China cargo consolidation: Can consolidate cargo in South China and depart from Yantian Port.
● Limited space: Smaller ships with limited space, prone to capacity shortages during peak seasons, leading to slow pickup.
3. Hapag-Lloyd (HPL)
● Member of a major alliance: One of the world’s top five shipping companies, belonging to THE Alliance (HPL/ONE/YML/HMM).
● Rigorous operations: Operates with high professionalism and offers affordable prices.
● Ample space: Sufficient space with no worry about cargo rollovers.
● Convenient booking: Simple online booking process with transparent pricing.
4. ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM)
● Exclusive terminals: Owns independent exclusive terminals, not allied with other companies, allowing autonomous control over space and prices.
● Transit time comparable to Matson: Launched the e-commerce route ZEX to compete with Matson, featuring stable transit time and high unloading efficiency.
● Yantian departure: Departs from Yantian Port, with an average sea route time of 12-14 days. Spaces with (brackets) allow for fast pickup.
● Higher prices: Prices are higher compared to regular cargo ships.
5. China Cosco Shipping (COSCO)
● Ample space: Sufficient space, with stable schedules among regular cargo ships.
● Express pickup service: Launched an express pickup service, allowing priority pickup without appointment. Its e-commerce container routes mainly use SEA and SEAX routes, docking at LBCT terminal, with an average schedule of about 16 days.
● Space and container guarantee service: The so-called “COSCO Express” or “COSCO Guaranteed Pickup” in the market refers to COSCO regular ships combined with space and container guarantee services, offering priority pickup, no cargo rollovers, and pickup within 2-4 days of arrival.
6. Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM)
● Accepts special cargo: Can accept battery cargo (can be shipped as general cargo with MSDS, transportation appraisal reports, and letters of guarantee). Also provides refrigerated containers and dry refrigerated containers, accepts dangerous goods, and offers relatively low prices.
7. Maersk (MSK)
● Large scale: One of the world’s largest shipping companies, with numerous ships, extensive routes, and sufficient space.
● Transparent pricing: What you see is what you pay, with guarantees for container loading.
● Convenient booking: Convenient online booking services. It has the most 45-foot high-cube container spaces and offers fast transit times on European routes, especially to Felixstowe Port in the UK.
8. Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL)
● Stable schedules and routes: Stable schedules and routes with competitive prices.
● High terminal efficiency: Wangpai routes (PVSC, PCC1) dock at LBCT terminal, which features high automation, fast unloading, and efficient pickup, with an average schedule of 14-18 days.
● Limited space: Smaller ships with limited space, prone to capacity shortages during peak seasons.
9. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
● Extensive routes: Routes cover the globe, with numerous and large ships.
● Low prices: Relatively low space prices. Can accept non-dangerous battery cargo with letters of guarantee, as well as heavy goods without additional charges for overweight.
● Bill of lading and schedule issues: Has experienced delays in bill of lading issuance and unstable schedules. Routes call at many ports, resulting in long routes, making it unsuitable for clients with strict schedule requirements.
10. CMA CGM (CMA)
● Low freight rates and fast speed: Low freight rates and fast ship speed, but with occasional unexpected schedule deviations.
● Advantages in e-commerce routes: Its EXX and EX1 e-commerce routes feature fast and stable transit times, approaching those of Matson, with slightly lower prices. It has dedicated container yards and truck channels at the Port of Los Angeles, enabling rapid unloading and departure of goods.
Post time: Jul-02-2025
