Global shipping company Maersk has introduced seasonal adjustments to its WAF7 West Africa–Mediterranean service, extending the route to South Africa to support increased demand during the country’s fruit export season.
The revised rotation is designed to improve export capacity while maintaining reliable coverage across key West African ports.
Updated WAF7 Route Includes South Africa
Under the new schedule, the WAF7 service will follow this rotation:
- Tangier (Morocco)
- Conakry (Guinea)
- Pointe Noire (Republic of the Congo)
- Port Elizabeth (South Africa)
- Return to Tangier
The addition of Port Elizabeth marks a strategic expansion of the service to support South Africa’s agricultural export peak season.
Pointe Noire Added, Freetown Removed
As part of the updated network, Maersk has also added a call at Pointe Noire in the Republic of the Congo, strengthening connectivity along the West African coastline.
However, Freetown (Sierra Leone) has been removed from the WAF7 rotation.
Instead, Maersk will serve Freetown through a dedicated feeder service called Northern West Africa Plus (NWAP), which operates between Tangier and Freetown.
Supporting South Africa’s Fruit Export Season
The seasonal adjustment is aimed at supporting increased volumes of fruit exports from South Africa, a key exporter of citrus, grapes, and other perishable agricultural goods.
By extending the WAF7 route, Maersk aims to improve shipping efficiency, reduce congestion risks, and ensure timely delivery of temperature-sensitive cargo during peak export months.
Strengthening West Africa–Southern Africa Trade Links
The revised service reflects growing demand for more flexible and regionally integrated shipping networks across Africa’s Atlantic corridor.
By combining West African port coverage with seasonal access to South Africa, Maersk is enhancing trade connectivity between agricultural exporters and global markets.
Outlook
The changes to the WAF7 service highlight the increasing importance of seasonal logistics planning in global shipping. As African agricultural exports grow, shipping lines are adapting routes to match production cycles and international demand patterns, particularly for high-value perishable goods.
Summary
Maersk has extended its WAF7 West Africa shipping service to include Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to support the country’s fruit export season. The updated route adds Pointe Noire, removes Freetown (now served by a feeder service), and aims to improve regional export efficiency and trade connectivity across West and Southern Africa.