Marseille, France-based, global ocean container shipping company, CMA CGM, has announced a USD$20 billion (AUD$31.70 billion) investment over four years into US maritime, transport, logistics and supply chain capabilities over the next four years.
Today, the Group operates in 40 U.S. states and employs 15,000 Americans. As a leading partner in U.S. trade, CMA CGM transports over 5 million shipping containers to and from the country each year.
CMA CGM is the owner of the U.S. flag carrier, American President lines.
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group, said: “I am proud to build on our long-standing relationship with the United States through this commitment of $20 billion to the country’s maritime future and logistics capabilities. Over the next four years, we will significantly grow our U.S.-flagged fleet, expand the capacity of key container ports on both coasts, develop state-of-the-art warehousing across the country, and establish a significant air cargo hub in Chicago. This will create 10,000 new American jobs and further strengthen our partnership with American customers and public authorities.”
The Group adds that it will contribute to the development of U.S. maritime capabilities through a range of investments, adding that it “advances the U.S. Administration’s recently-announced priority to strengthen American shipbuilding capabilities. This includes bolstering APL’s U.S. flag capacity and enhancing maritime resources with new jobs, skills, and technologies. These commitments will reinforce APL’s position as the leading carrier for U.S. government cargo transportation”.
The Group will also develop container port infrastructure across the United States, including New York, Los Angeles, Dutch Harbor (the Aleutian Islands, Alaska), Houston and Miami.
CMA CGM is present in over 160 countries, with more than 400 offices, 1,00 warehouses, and 160,000 staff members. It operates a fleet of more than 650 ships, serving 420 of the world’s 521 commercial ports and operates on more than 250 shipping lines.
