CMA CGM Becomes First Foreign Line to Operate Philippine Routes

After the Marcos administration’s decision to relax cabotage laws, a subsidiary of France’s CMA CGM became the first foreign shipping line to operate domestic routes in the Philippines.

The 1,037 TEU CNC Pilipinas has made history as the first foreign vessel dedicated solely to local routes, serving ports in Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro. This vessel, part of CNC, CMA CGM’s intra-Asia division, now operates under the newly created entity, CMA CGM Philippines Shipping.

CMA CGM Philippines Shipping adheres to local regulations by employing a fully Filipino crew.

“The Philippines holds promising potential for maritime growth and innovation given its dynamic domestic and international trade. We are thrilled to be the first foreign company to establish our own entity here, and together with the Philippine government, will strive to bring the best of our global knowledge, technologies, and infrastructure to the domestic market,” said CNC CEO Steven Zhu.

CNC plans to expand its dedicated network in the Philippines by adding more ships and ports in the near future.