X-Press Feeders and COSCO Shipping sign cooperation agreements

Feeder operator X-Press Feeders Group and mainline operator COSCO Shipping Lines signed two agreements on June 18 to expand network coverage and strengthen service coordination.

The first agreement establishes a partnership where the two companies will explore opportunities to cooperate on feeder services across Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, North Europe, and Latin America.

A second agreement covers vessel leasing, giving COSCO the first option to charter newbuild vessels from X-Press Feeders. According to the announcement, these vessels may be deployed to support joint services where appropriate.

The companies stated that the collaboration is a response to stricter "decarbonisation" targets and evolving trade flows. They described a shared goal of building more resilient supply chains and advancing a transition to "low [local] emission" shipping.

X-Press Feeders currently operates a fleet of over 100 vessels with capacities ranging from 500 TEU to 7,000 TEU. On the other hand, COSCO Shipping currently operates a fleet of 551 boxships serving 404 routes.