This activity is very limited and conducted strictly in accordance with the sanctions regime in place," it said, without giving further details.

Paris - Reuters : In a preemptive move French-based CMA CGM, the world's third-largest container shipping line, has resumed limited services to Russia, notably to transport food, three years after withdrawing from the country following its invasion of Ukraine, the company said .Like other Western firms, CMA CGM halted its activities in Russia, stopping its shipping services and also divesting stakes held in port terminals.

Relaunched the shipping of foodstuffs 

The group's CNC subsidiary has now relaunched the shipping of foodstuffs such as citrus fruit and coffee to Russia to meet demand from certain customers, CMA CGM said in an emailed statement. This activity is very limited and conducted strictly in accordance with the sanctions regime in place," it said, without giving further details.

French daily newspaper Ouest France, which had previously reported the development, said CMA CGM was not using its own fleet but booking space for its containers on vessels of other lines.

MSC, has not suspended their shipping routes to Russia

CMA CGM joins Swiss-based rival MSC in shipping cargo to Russia. MSC has maintained shipments there during the war in Ukraine but limited them to food, medical and humanitarian goods Some shipping companies, such as the world's largest container carrier MSC, has not suspended their shipping routes to Russia. On its website, MSC specifies that its "ships continue to call at Russian ports in accordance with applicable sanctions regimes." "Since March 1, 2022, MSC has only been accepting bookings for AMH (food, medical, and humanitarian) cargo on services to and from Russia," the Swiss shipping company said.

CMA CGM the world's third-largest shipping company

The world's third-largest shipping company  CMA CGM is based in Marseille and operates a fleet of over 650 vessels, 370 of which it owns. Thirty-three of these vessels fly the French flag. The Group also operates 60 port terminals in 30 countries across five continents, either independently or through joint ventures.

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CMA CGM , MSC , Russia trade , shipping of foodstuffs , AMH