HMM, South Korea’s largest container shipping company, is set to introduce about 10 small-sized container ships as part of its strategy to expand into intra-Asia, Middle East, and African markets—routes traditionally considered niche compared to its core trans-Pacific and Europe-bound operations.

According to shipping industry sources on Wednesday, HMM plans to gradually deploy vessels ranging from 1,800 to 3,000 TEUs from the second half of this year through 2027. These ships are expected to enhance the company’s flexibility and competitiveness in third-country regional routes.

A senior official at HMM confirmed, “The decision to bring in small vessels has already been finalized internally,” adding that the company will pursue a mixed strategy of acquiring secondhand ships and placing new-build orders.

This move reflects a strategic pivot toward the rapidly growing intra-Asia market, which encompasses shipping lanes among Northeast Asian countries like Korea, China, and Japan, as well as Southeast Asia and South Asia, including India. With global supply chains shifting to Southeast Asia and India’s economic rise accelerating, freight volume across these regions is increasing sharply.

HMM’s core long-haul routes to North America and Europe remain highly volatile due to global economic cycles, exposing the company to performance swings. In contrast, intra-Asia shipping is supported by more stable demand and is seen as a reliable growth engine.

By introducing small container ships, each costing between 35 billion and 50 billion won ($37 million), HMM is aiming for a high return on investment. The total investment could reach nearly 500 billion won, significantly lower than the 300–400 billion won typically required for one 24,000 TEU mega-ship.

To avoid conflict with local small- and mid-sized Korean shipping lines, HMM plans to focus on third-country regional routes, such as China–Southeast Asia and Thailand–Singapore–Middle East, while steering clear of Korea-origin routes. The new ships will mainly support regional operations that connect with HMM’s long-haul networks.

The move also serves as a proactive response to ongoing shifts in global shipping alliances. The recent dissolution of the 2M Alliance (Maersk and MSC) and the formation of the new Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are redrawing the landscape. In this context, HMM’s emphasis on building its own service network in high-growth regions reduces alliance dependency and enhances its strategic resilience.

With global freight rates falling and earnings under pressure this year, HMM sees this initiative as a pathway to secure new growth drivers.

[ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단 전재, 재배포 및 AI학습 이용 금지]