Busan, South Korea, January 16, 2025 – HMM, a leading global shipping company, announced today that it will launch a new container service connecting Asia and the eastern coast of South America starting in April.

The new service, dubbed FL2 (Far East Asia - East Latin America Service 2), will depart from South Korea and traverse the Indian Ocean and around the Cape of Good Hope to reach the eastern coast of South America. This addition to HMM's existing FIL (Far East-India-Latin America Service) is expected to solidify the company's position in the high-growth Asia-South America trade lane. The expanded service will also facilitate smoother exports and imports for Korean shippers and contribute to increased cargo volume at the Port of Busan.

Operated in partnership with Japan's ONE, the FL2 service will commence its maiden voyage from Busan in the first week of April. The roundtrip voyage will take approximately 77 days, with port calls in Busan (South Korea), South China, Singapore, Rio Grande (Brazil), Santos (Brazil), Santa Catarina (Brazil), Singapore, Hong Kong, and back to Busan.

To expedite transportation to Argentina and Uruguay, HMM will provide feeder services connecting Rio Grande, the first port of call in South America, to these countries. Feeder services are smaller vessels that connect major ports with smaller, more regional ports.

"We are continuously expanding our global network, including India and South America, to adapt to the changing market," said a HMM official. "By increasing direct service options, we aim to consistently enhance customer satisfaction."