May 29th, 2025 – Shipping lines, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, are launching a new express service to the U.S. West coast while Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) prepares to resume a previously suspended East coast service. These developments reflect growing confidence in trans-Pacific demand as rates continue to rise heading into June.
The new express service, brought to you by the Gemini Corporation vessel-sharing agreement between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, will connect China and South Korea to the U.S. West coast, respectively named TP9/WC6.
The first voyage on the 4,622-TEU Rhone Maersk is set to launch on June 24th, starting at Xiamen, China with subsequent calls at Busan and Long Beach, offering an 18-day transit from start to finish.
The new Gemini express service is launching following a swift two-month shift in trans-Pacific shipping demand, where ocean carriers initially pulled vessels in response to hefty Chinese tariffs that severely disrupted container bookings. As the 90-day tariff pause went into effect, carriers quickly reinstated capacity as demand began surge.
The rollercoaster ride of demand caused spot rates from China to the West coast to nearly double in the two-month timespan, increasing as much as $2,500-$3,000 per TEU or FEU.
Vessel capacity for June is expected at 1.268 million TEUs – up 34,000 TEUs from May. Container capacity like this hasn’t been seen since November 2024. The volume of “blanked” capacity withdrawn from the market will total 113,234 TEUs, marking the lowest since June 2024.
Since some vessels were repositioned for other trade lanes when demand dropped, impactful capacity additions for the trans-Pacific market aren’t expected until July. It remains unclear whether the expected capacity increases are enough to justify further rate hikes.
Some ocean lines are better positioned to respond to the resurgent demand, like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, since they did not withdraw their vessels from the trans-Pacific despite the turmoil, or they have the resources available to quickly add capacity back to the market.
The U.S. East coast is also expecting a boost in service come June. MSC’s Empire service from North China to the East coast appears ready for a mid-June resurgence after announcing service suspensions in early May due to decreased demand.
According to the vessel schedule, the Empire service will offer direct voyages from Shanghai to the Port of New York and New Jersey with a June 18th departure date of the 6,730-TEU MSC Barbara. Six other ships are scheduled for weekly departures on the route through the end of July.
