CMA CGM will begin a new Oceania-US east coast service in February under a space charter agreement with Maersk, reports New York's Journal of Commerce.

The KEA service will start with the 3,752-TEU Spirit of Melbourne departing Sydney in early February. The South Pacific rotation includes Melbourne, Port Chalmers and Tauranga in New Zealand.

Americas calls will cover Balboa and Manzanillo in Panama, Cartagena in Colombia, and US ports Philadelphia and Charleston. CMA CGM is promoting KEA as a fast service for fresh fruits and frozen food from Oceania to the US east coast.

CMA CGM and Maersk filed the charter agreement with the Federal Maritime Commission this month. CMA CGM will purchase 350 TEU, equal to 4,900 tonnes of space, including 100 reefer plugs, on each roundtrip sailing of Maersk's OC-1 service.

The carrier said KEA will complement its Panama Direct Line, offering full US east coast coverage and transshipment options to northern Europe.

Oceania imports to the US east coast have grown steadily since 2021. PIERS data shows volumes reached 108,198 TEU in 2024, with year-to-date imports through November 2025 up nine per cent. Philadelphia has captured nearly two-thirds of the trade, reflecting its strength in refrigerated cargo.