Hapag-Lloyd reorganizes West Africa Express shipping service

German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd has announced a reorganization of its West Africa Express (WAX) service, effective September 2026. The restructuring aims to enhance operational flexibility, improve schedule reliability, and strengthen maritime links between the Mediterranean, Türkiye, and West Africa.

The revised route will include calls at Damietta in Egypt, Izmit, Gemlik, and Istanbul in Türkiye, Valencia in Spain, and Tangier Med in Morocco. From Tangier Med, the service will proceed to major West African ports, including Lagos (Tincan and Apapa) and Onne in Nigeria, Cotonou in Benin, Tema in Ghana, and Lome in Togo. The route will then return to Tangier Med before continuing to Barcelona and back to Damietta.

Notably, the reorganization will establish a direct connection between Damietta and West African ports. While Tangier Med remains a key hub in both directions, Casablanca will no longer be part of the main WAX rotation; instead, it will be served via a separate feeder service connecting through Valencia. The first sailing under this new arrangement is scheduled to arrive in Damietta on September 21, 2026, via the vessel Merkur Ocean.