Sinokor Merchant Marine is setting its sights on the U.S. market by positioning Mexico as a strategic export hub. This move comes as the company prepares to make its first foray into trans-Pacific trade, launching a new container service in collaboration with seven other shipping lines connecting South Korea, China, and Mexico.
Sinokor’s roots trace back to 1989, before the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China, when it was founded in British Hong Kong as a joint venture called Sinokor Company Ltd. Initially backed by Korea’s Southeast Asia Shipping and China’s Sinotrans, the company has evolved significantly over the years. After acquiring full ownership in 1998, following the exit of Chinese and Korean capital, Sinokor established its national shipping line, Sinokor Merchant Marine, in 1999.
Now, Sinokor is set to launch the ‘Asia-Mexico Express (AMX)’ service on March 30, in partnership with KMTC and global shipping companies from China, Taiwan, and Thailand. Mexico has emerged as a vital transshipment hub for Chinese exports to the Americas, driving a significant increase in cargo transport demand.
The AMX service will operate a route from Shanghai, with stops in Busan and Manzanillo, Mexico, before returning to Shanghai. Each participating shipping line will contribute a vessel of approximately 2,800 TEU capacity. This new service aims to streamline shipping by bypassing multiple intermediary ports, reducing transit times and enhancing trade between Asia and South America. The estimated transit time from Shanghai to Manzanillo is 23 to 25 days, while shipments from Busan to Manzanillo are expected to take around 21 days.
As American companies face rising tariffs on Chinese goods, many are looking to Mexico as a strategic export hub. This shift has led to a surge in trade volume between China and Mexico, with a remarkable increase from 3.5% growth in 2022 to 34.8% in 2023. Container throughput in Mexico also rose by 12% in the same year.
Sinokor’s expansion into the trans-Pacific route not only reflects its ambition to capture a share of the growing trade between China and North America but also positions it to capitalize on the increasing demand for efficient logistics solutions. Major shipping companies, including HMM and French shipping giant CMA CGM, have already launched services along this route, further emphasizing the strategic importance of Mexico in global shipping networks.
As Sinokor Merchant Marine moves to strengthen its logistics network centered around Mexico, it aims to enhance its presence in the U.S. market, tapping into the potential for growth and success in this rapidly evolving trade landscape.
