CMA CGM MEDEX Service Adds Seasonal Iskenderun Call to Mediterranean Rotation
Shipping Arabia, November 8, 2026 – CMA CGM has added a seasonal call at Iskenderun, Türkiye, to its MEDEX service connecting the Indian subcontinent with the Mediterranean. The additional port call is expected to remain in the service rotation until the end of December 2026, strengthening direct maritime connections for southern Türkiye.
The seasonal addition provides a direct link between southern Türkiye, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. It is also expected to support Turkish seasonal exports requiring refrigerated container transport, particularly citrus fruits and apples.
CMA CGM MEDEX Service Revised Port Rotation
The updated CMA CGM MEDEX service includes Iskenderun among its Mediterranean calls, alongside ports in Egypt, Malta, Italy, France, Spain, Greece and Lebanon.
According to CMA CGM, the revised port rotation is as follows:
Port Said – Malta – Genoa – Marseille – Valencia – Piraeus – Iskenderun – Beirut – Jeddah – Djibouti – Duqm – Mundra – Nhava Sheva – Colombo – Djibouti – Jeddah – Port Said.
The revised rotation maintains connections through the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, including calls at Jeddah, Djibouti and Duqm, before serving ports across the Indian subcontinent.
The seasonal Iskenderun call is expected to remain part of this rotation through December 2026, providing additional direct shipping options for cargo moving between southern Türkiye and the markets served by MEDEX.
CMA CGM Suspends Transatlantic Sailings on Panama Direct Service
Separately, CMA CGM has announced a temporary suspension of transatlantic sailings on its Panama Direct (PAD) service following the conclusion of the kiwi export season.
According to shipping industry information provider DynaLiners, the suspension will last approximately 18 weeks, beginning in mid-November 2026 and continuing until late March 2027.
During this period, the revised PAD service will maintain weekly connections between Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. East Coast. However, Northern European ports will be excluded from the temporary service rotation.
The adjustment will allow CMA CGM to withdraw four vessels from the service. As a result, the revised fleet will comprise 11 container ships, each with an approximate capacity of 2,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Revised Panama Direct Port Rotation
Under the temporary operating arrangement, the PAD service will follow a revised port rotation connecting the U.S. East Coast with destinations across the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand.
The temporary port rotation will be:
New York – Savannah – Kingston – Papeete – Nouméa – Brisbane – Sydney – Melbourne – Tauranga – Cartagena – Savannah – Philadelphia – New York.
The revised schedule retains calls at several U.S. East Coast ports, including New York, Savannah and Philadelphia. It also maintains connections with Australia and New Zealand through Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Tauranga.
CMA CGM’s temporary PAD adjustment and seasonal Iskenderun addition represent separate changes to its container shipping network. The MEDEX addition is scheduled through December 2026, while the revised Panama Direct arrangement is expected to continue until late March 2027.
Source: Al Mal News