New direct China service reaches Paranaguá: TCP receives the first ZIM Falcon ship
ZIM Wilmington berthed early on October 27. The weekly service uses 11 ships and is the same one Hapag-Lloyd sells as AS3.
In 30 seconds
- Paranaguá Container Terminal (TCP) received ZIM Wilmington on October 27, the first ship of ZIM Falcon, a weekly service between China and the east coast of South America.
- The service is operated with Hapag-Lloyd, which markets it as AS3. It uses 11 ships calling at Rio Grande, Paranaguá, Itajaí, Santos and Rio de Janeiro.
- The rotation in operation differs from the one announced in July: Navegantes, Montevideo and Buenos Aires were dropped, and Rio Grande and Itajaí were added.
The news
The container ship ZIM Wilmington, 300 metres long and 48 metres wide, berthed early on Tuesday, October 27, at Paranaguá Container Terminal (TCP). It was the terminal's first call of ZIM Falcon (ZFS), a weekly service linking China with the east coast of South America with 11 ships, according to TCP.
The service is the same one Hapag-Lloyd sells as AS3, in partnership with ZIM. The rotation leaves Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Yantian and, in Brazil, calls at Rio Grande, Paranaguá, Itajaí, Santos and Rio de Janeiro. The maiden voyage left Shanghai in September, and the first departure from Brazil to Asia was scheduled for October 21 at Rio Grande. According to Kuehne+Nagel, the ships range from 7,000 to 11,000 TEU.
The rotation has changed since the announcement. When it launched ZIM Falcon on July 2, ZIM described a service operated by ZIM alone, calling at Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Paranaguá and Navegantes and extending to Montevideo and Buenos Aires. In the version now running, the service left the River Plate and Navegantes and added Rio Grande and Itajaí.
Why it matters
The new service arrives as the Asia–Brazil trade is being reorganised. Maersk and CMA CGM end their ASAS2 partnership in December, and CMA CGM is redesigning its SEAS 2 and SEAS A services. For shippers in Paraná, ZIM Falcon is another weekly direct sailing to China, run by carriers other than those changing services.
The terminal also has the volume to support it. From January to September 2026, TCP handled more than 2 million tonnes in trade with China, almost balanced: 1.070 million tonnes loaded and 1.012 million discharged.
Anyone who relied on the original announcement should review their plans. Cargo from Navegantes, Montevideo or Buenos Aires that counted on ZIM Falcon needs another option or a transshipment.
What to do
- 1Include ZIM Falcon and AS3 in import quotes from China discharging at Paranaguá, Itajaí, Santos, Rio de Janeiro or Rio Grande, especially for December, when other services change.
What we know — and what we don't
- First ZIM Falcon call at TCP, with ZIM Wilmington, on 27/10/2026 (TCP)
- Weekly service with 11 ships between China and the east coast of South America (TCP)
- ZIM Falcon and Hapag-Lloyd AS3 are the same service, calling at Rio Grande, Paranaguá, Itajaí, Santos and Rio de Janeiro (Kuehne+Nagel and Hapag-Lloyd)
- ZIM's original announcement on 02/07/2026 included Navegantes, Montevideo and Buenos Aires (ZIM)
- TCP handled 1.070 million tonnes loaded and 1.012 million discharged in trade with China from January to September 2026 (TCP)
- Why the rotation changed between the July announcement and operation
- The official transit time from China to Paranaguá on the current rotation
- Whether Navegantes or the River Plate will return to the service
The announced rotation and the one in operation
| ZIM announcement (July) | In operation (AS3/ZFS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Asian ports | Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Yantian | Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Yantian |
| Brazilian ports | Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Paranaguá, Navegantes | Rio Grande, Paranaguá, Itajaí, Santos, Rio de Janeiro |
| River Plate | Montevideo and Buenos Aires | No calls |
| Operation | ZIM only | ZIM with Hapag-Lloyd |
| Ships | Not disclosed | 11, of 7,000 to 11,000 TEU |
Sources: ZIM (02/07/2026), Hapag-Lloyd and Kuehne+Nagel.
Sources
- TCP — TCP recebe o primeiro navio do novo serviço semanal ZIM Falcon (post oficial do terminal) — published 10/27/2026 · accessed 10/28/2026
- PortalPortuario — Paranaguá: TCP recebe primeira escala do novo serviço semanal ZIM Falcon — published 10/27/2026 · accessed 10/28/2026
- ZIM — ZIM Launches New Falcon Service Connecting Asia and the East Coast of South America — published 07/02/2026 · accessed 10/28/2026
- Hapag-Lloyd — Shipping from Asia to South America East Coast? Here's our new AS3 service · accessed 10/28/2026
- Kuehne+Nagel — Carrier service update (12 - 25 September 2026) · accessed 10/28/2026