Hapag-Lloyd is revising its West Africa Express (WAX) service from September 2026, introducing a direct connection between Damietta, Egypt, and key West African ports while maintaining links within the Mediterranean.
The updated rotation will connect Damietta, Izmit, Gemlik, Istanbul, Valencia, Tangier, Lagos, Onne, Cotonou, Tema, Lome, Tangier, Barcelona and Damietta. The revised service is designed to provide direct connections from both Damietta and Valencia to West Africa and improve network flexibility.
The first vessel on the revised rotation will be Merkur Ocean V.2639S, scheduled to arrive at Damietta on September 21, 2026.
Under the new arrangement, Hapag-Lloyd will also provide connectivity at Damietta with other services calling at the Egyptian port. A direct Türkiye–Valencia connection will be maintained, while Casablanca coverage will be provided through a separate feeder service via Valencia.
Hapag-Lloyd said the changes are intended to deliver greater operational flexibility and improved schedule reliability, while strengthening connections between the Mediterranean and West African markets.
The service enhancement comes as Hapag-Lloyd continues to expand its presence in West Africa. The carrier opened a dedicated office in Cotonou, Benin, in May 2026 to strengthen its local customer and logistics support.
The revised WAX service will give shippers an additional direct option between Egypt and major West African gateways, supporting trade flows between the Mediterranean, North Africa and West Africa.