CMA CGM is expanding in Genoa in preparation for the arrival of 150 new vessels by 2029 and has resumed routing its eastbound ships via the Suez Canal.

Genoa –CMA CGM is expanding in Genoa in preparation for the arrival of 150 new vessels by 2029. Furthermore, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions, the company has resumed routing its eastbound ships via the Suez Canal. This was one of the key takeaways from the 'Customers Meet Seafarers – Genoa Roadshow', an event organised by the French group at Terrazza Colombo in collaboration with PSA. The event brought together clients, institutions and stakeholders from the maritime and port communities to focus not only on ships, terminals and services, but also on the people who make the daily operation of international logistics chains possible.

 The group's performance in the Italian market

Paolo Guidi, General Manager of CMA CGM Italy, outlined the current landscape and emphasised the group's performance in the Italian market. 'In 2026, we achieved 11% growth at the PSA terminal in Genoa alone. This marks our third consecutive year of growth in Italy," he said, noting that the Marseille-based shipping line had just celebrated its 48^(th) anniversary. 'My role also involves keeping the group’s focus firmly on Italy,' he added, against a backdrop of continued global growth in container shipping, despite international tensions. 'In July, we hit a record of 17.5 million TEUs transported by sea,' Guidi emphasised. 'The situation is complex, but despite the challenging environment, the global container shipping market grew in 2026. We are finding different paths to growth.'

 The group has decided to make a strategic shift regarding the Suez route.

The French shipping line’s capacity is set to expand further. “CMA CGM has 150 new vessels due to arrive by 2029, so we will need to carefully consider where to deploy them,” Guidi explained, referring to this capacity growth occurring amidst shifting dynamics on major maritime routes. Indeed, the group has decided to make a strategic shift regarding the Suez route.

'As of last week, we have resumed transiting via Suez with our eastbound vessels,' announced the General Manager of CMA CGM Italy. The reasoning is primarily commercial: 'There is a significant amount of cargo to pick up in Asia, where the market has been disrupted by typhoons that forced route diversions and left many containers unloaded. We need to get our ships back to Asia quickly to load this cargo.”

Italian trade flows 

Italian trade flows are also contributing to the shifting of operational balances. 'This year, Italian exports dropped by 2%, while imports rose by 7%', noted the Italian head of the shipping group. In his view, this situation could have a positive impact on service efficiency. 'We are seeing a balance in flows, and this could lower our costs thanks to better load balancing.' Therefore, adaptability remains crucial. “Finding new solutions increasingly depends on human creativity,” Guidi concluded.

Related: CMA CGM names 24,212-TEU LNG boxship Pantheon under French flag

 The relationship between ports, terminals and logistics networks.

Roberto Ferrari, the CEO of PSA Italy, spoke about the relationship between ports, terminals and logistics networks. “It is essential to work as a system to find solutions because the market is changing. Forming alliances is fundamental,” he explained, adding that PSA has expanded its strategy in this regard, including through the acquisition of an inland terminal in Padua. 'We need to grow and become more efficient. From Italy, we aim to serve Southern Europe.' The goal is to build a more integrated network that links quayside facilities with inland ones and is capable of offering alternatives should any part of the chain fail.

 CMA CGM still sees room for growth, 

A clear picture was revealed by the discussion: CMA CGM still sees room for growth, PSA is focusing on integration and redundancy, while the Port Authority is emphasizing the need to accelerate the use of rail transport. While these are three distinct perspectives, they converge on one key point: in an increasingly volatile logistics landscape exposed to geopolitical, climate, infrastructure, and digital shocks, competitiveness will depend not only on the capacity to handle higher container volumes, but also on the ability to build flexible, interconnected networks capable of rapid response to unforeseen events.

Source: Shipping Italy

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