Maersk and MSC have added Suape, in northeastern Brazil, to their weekly Americas shipping network, expanding the port’s connections with Caribbean, Mexican and US Gulf destinations. The new call brings additional international services to APM Terminals Suape, which began commercial operations in September 2026.
Suape has been incorporated into the existing UCLA service marketed by Maersk, also operated by MSC under the name Gulf to SAEC I. The revised rotation places the Brazilian port between Cartagena, Colombia, and Santos, Brazil, creating an additional weekly shipping option for businesses operating in Pernambuco and the surrounding region.
In its October 28 announcement, APM Terminals identified Houston in the United States, Veracruz and Altamira in Mexico, and Cartagena in Colombia as key destinations connected through the service. The addition extends the international network available through its recently opened Suape terminal, without representing the launch of an entirely new shipping route.
New Suape Call Extends Links to Caribbean and Gulf Ports
Under the revised rotation published by MSC, vessels call at Veracruz, Altamira, Houston and Cartagena before reaching Suape. The service then continues to Santos, Itapoá, Paranaguá, Itajaí, Santos again and Rio de Janeiro, before returning through Cartagena to Mexico. Suape’s inclusion gives exporters and importers in northeastern Brazil access to another scheduled connection within an established network linking South America, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.
APM Terminals has published estimated transit times of 11 days from Suape to Cartagena, 21 days to Houston, 24 days to Altamira and 26 days to Veracruz. These figures provide commercial reference points for shippers evaluating transport options, although the operator has not published a comparison demonstrating how much time the revised service saves against existing alternatives.
The initial sailing dates differ between the companies’ announcements. In their October 12 communications, Maersk and MSC scheduled the first Suape call by the MSC YAMUNA VI for October 26, 2026. APM Terminals’ subsequent October 28 announcement identified November 1 as the inaugural call date for the same vessel. The published statements therefore establish the planned addition of Suape to the service but do not provide a consistent inaugural date.
The commercial opportunities extend beyond the ports directly included in the rotation. Maersk has highlighted potential connections with Manaus through its integrated logistics network, while APM Terminals identifies plastics, rubber-related products and organic chemicals among the cargo segments targeted by the service. These are prospective commercial opportunities rather than evidence of cargo volumes already generated by the new call.
International Service Follows APM Terminals Suape’s September Opening
The new international connection comes shortly after APM Terminals Suape began commercial operations on September 2, 2026, when the Maersk Ganges called under the ALCT2 coastal shipping service. The terminal’s initial activity focused on Brazilian domestic maritime connections, making the addition of the Maersk–MSC rotation another step in expanding its service portfolio.
According to APM Terminals’ September opening announcement, the facility represents an investment exceeding BRL 2 billion and has an initial handling capacity of up to 400,000 TEU annually. The operator expects the terminal to increase the Suape port complex’s container-handling capacity by approximately 55% and describes it as Latin America’s first fully electrified container terminal.
The terminal’s infrastructure provides additional handling capacity, while the weekly international service offers shipping companies and cargo owners another option for connecting northeastern Brazil with markets elsewhere in the Americas. The availability of a new scheduled call, however, does not by itself establish higher export volumes, lower freight costs or shorter door-to-door delivery times.
With commercial operations already underway, the next measure of the service’s contribution will be the cargo volumes handled through the new rotation and the extent to which regional shippers use the connections offered by Maersk and MSC.
FAQ
Which ports are connected to Suape through the UCLA service?
The revised service links Suape with Cartagena in Colombia, Houston in the United States, and Altamira and Veracruz in Mexico, alongside several ports on Brazil’s eastern and southern coast.
How often will Maersk and MSC call at Suape?
The companies have announced a weekly call at Suape as part of the existing UCLA service, also marketed by MSC as Gulf to SAEC I.
What is the capacity of APM Terminals Suape?
APM Terminals Suape has an initial container-handling capacity of up to 400,000 TEU per year. The operator says the facility is expected to increase the port complex’s container capacity by approximately 55%.
