Grimaldi Group is expanding beyond its traditional focus on new car transport, preparing to launch a new shipping service for container and general cargo between China and West Africa.

New Shipping Service to Connect China and West Africa

During the Euromed Convention in Athens, Gianluca Grimaldi, president of Grimaldi Group, announced a new phase of development for the company. Starting in 2025, the group will offer maritime transport of general cargo between China and West Africa. This expansion marks a shift from their existing focus on car carrier services between the Far East and Europe.

Grimaldi revealed that the new deep-sea service will connect Shanghai with Lagos, Nigeria, where the company has a large terminal. From Lagos, the cargo will be distributed across West Africa using vessels that already serve the routes to and from Northern Europe. The new line will be operated by three dedicated Con-Ro (Container-RoRo) vessels capable of carrying containers, project cargo, rolling stock, trucks, and more.

Strategic Benefits and Fewer Competitors

Grimaldi emphasized that this new route has been planned independently of security concerns or traffic conditions in the Red Sea and Suez Canal. In fact, he pointed out that Grimaldi might face fewer competitors on this route, as some may continue using the Suez Canal.

Further Expansion and Fleet Modernization

The Grimaldi Group is also considering further orders for multipurpose Ro-Ro vessels like the ones recently built at the Hyundai Mipo shipyard in South Korea. The company has already taken delivery of five new Con-Ro ships, with a sixth, the Great Cotonou, expected by the end of the year. This will bring their total to 39 Con-Ro vessels, including five from ACL. Grimaldi is one of the last major shipping companies to invest in this type of vessel, with other competitors like the Ignazio Messina Group having sold their fleets in recent years.

Grimaldi expressed satisfaction with the performance of the new Con-Ro ships, which can carry 2,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), 4,500 linear meters of rolling cargo, and 2,000 cars. With some of their older vessels approaching 25 years of service, Grimaldi is likely to place additional orders in the coming years to modernize their fleet.

Success in Transatlantic and Triangular Trade Routes

In addition to the new China-West Africa service, Grimaldi Group has found success in its deep-sea operations with another recently launched route in the transatlantic trade, which began at the end of 2022. This service links Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, strengthening the triangular trade route between Mexico, the U.S., West Africa, and Brazil.

Grimaldi noted that the company is particularly focused on the triangular route due to its diversification and efficiency. On this route, only 10 days of a 70-day round trip are spent in ballast (empty travel), with five ships employed on the service. The route connects Brazil with Mexico and Colombia, offering significant export opportunities from Brazil.

Efficient Service and Growth Prospects

The triangular route operates with a 15-day frequency, connecting major ports in Brazil (Paranagua, Santis, Suape), Mexico (Veracruz, Altamira), and the United States (Freeport, Jacksonville, Baltimore). Grimaldi highlighted the importance of the route for U.S.-West Africa trade, as well as for exports from Brazil to Mexico and Colombia, describing it as a well-balanced service relying on multiple types of cargo volumes.