HMM adopts hub-and-spoke model with new West Africa service

HMM has begun the first service under its new hub-and-spoke plan in Africa, launching the MA2 Mediterranean-Africa route to tie Spain more closely to West African markets. The loop uses five feeder vessels between Algeciras, where HMM has a terminal stake, and Tangier, Dakar, Tema, Lekki and Abidjan, with the carrier positioning the service as a way to link its long-haul network more cleanly with regional distribution. According to The Loadstar, the move is also intended to support wider cargo flows between the Far East, India and the Mediterranean.

The carrier says the main operational benefit is better punctuality for its ultra-large ships, which have been affected by congestion at West African ports. By separating those calls from its mainline services, HMM argues it can protect schedule reliability while still keeping regional coverage through feeder loops that can be adjusted more flexibly. The company has said it wants to keep expanding vessel-to-feeder connections around major global hubs as part of that broader strategy.

The service enters a market that has been growing quickly. MB Shipbrokers said West Africa’s containerised imports rose 15 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, after a 47 per cent increase last year versus pre-Covid levels and a further 22 per cent rise against 2024. The brokerage said the surge has been fuelled by Chinese exports, rising consumption and the ongoing build-out of regional port infrastructure, including deepwater developments that have made hub-and-spoke operations more practical.

HMM’s African launch also fits a wider fleet-building push under chief executive Choi Won-hyuk, who took over last year after leading LX Pantos. Since 2025, the line has added 27 feeder ships, including 22 newbuildings, and The Loadstar reported that it has been strengthening links between its main ocean services and coastal distribution while leaning on its own terminal interests. Separate reporting also said HMM and partner ONE are promoting the Algeciras-West Africa loop as a way to lift transhipment volumes through southern Spain.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Verification / Sources

• https://theloadstar.com/hmm-launches-first-hub-and-spoke-network-service/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
• https://theloadstar.com/hmm-launches-first-hub-and-spoke-network-service/ – HMM has launched its first hub-and-spoke service in Africa, the MA2 (Mediterranean-Africa) service, connecting Spain and West Africa. This service employs five feeder ships between Algeciras, where HMM operates a terminal, and ports including Tangier, Dakar, Tema, Lekki, and Abidjan. The hub-and-spoke strategy involves large vessels serving as central hubs, with feeder ships connecting to enhance services. The MA2 service aims to improve the on-time performance of HMM’s ultra-large vessels on the Far East-India-Mediterranean route by reducing congestion at West African ports. HMM plans to expand its larger vessel-feeder connection services, focusing on major global hub ports. Investments in West African deepwater ports, such as the Lome Container Terminal in Togo, have enabled this model, allowing carriers to serve the entire region efficiently from a central point, thereby lowering logistics costs. Since 2025, HMM has acquired 27 feeder ships, including 22 newbuildings. West Africa’s containerised imports have increased significantly, rising by 15% in Q1 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, driven by Chinese exports to a region with growing consumption and improved shipping infrastructure.
• https://theloadstar.com/new-one-hmm-med-west-africa-service-a-boost-for-algeciras-transhipment/ – Japanese carrier ONE and its partner HMM are launching a new service between the western Mediterranean and West Africa in July, aiming to boost volumes through the Algeciras transhipment hub. The service, marketed as MAX by ONE and MA2 by HMM, will deploy five 2,800 TEU ships on a port rotation of Algeciras-Tanger Med-Dakar-Tema-Lekki-Abidjan-Algeciras. The first departure is scheduled for the second half of July. The service is designed to provide robust connectivity between Far East Asia, Northern Europe, and West Africa via the Algeciras and Tangier Mediterranean hubs, ensuring reliable transit times and increased capacity. HMM plans to leverage its 51% stake in Algeciras’s TTI facility to effectively link its core main-haul services with emerging African markets. To bolster its hub-and-spoke strategy, HMM has secured a total of 24 feeder vessels in the last six months, including ten 2,800 TEU ships ordered from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in March, two 1,900 TEU ships acquired from the market this year, and 12 1,800-2,700 TEU vessels ordered last October. Additionally, TTI has submitted a $150 million phase two expansion project to the Algeciras port authority, aiming to increase capacity to 2.1 million TEU by 2028, with a potential third phase adding a further 700,000 TEU.
• https://theloadstar.com/hmm-eyes-hub-and-spoke-model-as-it-expands-feeder-fleet/ – South Korean flagship carrier HMM is focusing on rebuilding its intra-Asia shipping business by expanding its feeder fleet to pursue increased volumes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HMM shifted a significant portion of its shipping capacity from China-Southeast Asia trades to the transpacific routes, leading to a reduction in its intra-Asia services. However, with the recovery of the intra-Asia market, HMM is now aiming to enhance its presence in this sector by investing in additional feeder vessels. The expansion of the feeder fleet is part of HMM’s broader strategy to strengthen its hub-and-spoke model, which involves large vessels serving as central hubs and smaller feeder ships connecting to various ports, thereby improving service efficiency and coverage.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The article reports on HMM’s recent launch of the MA2 service connecting Spain and West Africa. The earliest known publication date of similar content is July 7, 2026, with multiple reputable sources reporting on the same event. (donga.com) The narrative appears original and timely, with no significant discrepancies noted.

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: The article includes direct quotes attributed to an HMM spokesperson. However, these quotes cannot be independently verified through the provided sources. The spokesperson’s statements are consistent with the reported event but lack external confirmation. No earlier usage of these exact quotes was found, but the inability to verify them raises concerns about their authenticity.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The primary source, The Loadstar, is a niche publication focusing on logistics and supply chain news. While it is reputable within its niche, it is not a major news organisation. The article is based on a press release from HMM, which typically warrants a high freshness score but may lack independent verification. The reliance on a single source for the main narrative reduces the overall reliability score.

Plausibility check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims about HMM launching the MA2 service and its operational details are plausible and align with industry trends. The service’s route and operational strategy are consistent with HMM’s previous initiatives. However, the lack of independent verification of the quotes and the reliance on a single source for the main narrative raise concerns about the overall credibility.