ZIM Integrated Shipping Services has announced the launch of ZX3, a new premium express container service connecting Shanghai and Xiamen in China with Los Angeles on the US West Coast. The service is scheduled to commence operations in December 2026 and will operate exclusively under ZIM.
Designed to provide faster and more reliable transpacific connections, ZX3 will offer a direct transit time of 12 days from Shanghai to Los Angeles and 15 days from Xiamen.
ZX3 to Strengthen ZIM’s Premium Transpacific Network
The new service will operate on the following port rotation: Xiamen – Shanghai – Los Angeles – Xiamen
ZX3 will complement ZIM’s existing premium express services, ZEX and ZX2. With the addition of ZX3, the three services will collectively provide seven weekly departures from China and Vietnam to the US West Coast.
At the Port of Los Angeles, the service will call at West Basin Container Terminal (WBCT), where ZIM will benefit from a dedicated berth, container yard and pickup lanes.
The service is designed to streamline cargo handling and delivery, with planned Monday arrivals in Los Angeles and expedited cargo availability. Containers will be discharged onto dedicated chassis, enabling customers to arrange immediate pickup without the need for appointments or waiting in queues.
ZX3 will also provide rail connectivity to key inland destinations across the United States, including Chicago, New York, Memphis, Dallas and Kansas City, extending its reach beyond the US West Coast.
Commenting on the launch, Hani Kalinski, Executive Vice President of ZIM’s Pacific Business Unit, said the new service would expand the company’s premium network coverage while offering customers greater flexibility.
The introduction of ZX3 marks another step in ZIM’s strategy to strengthen its expedited transpacific services, providing a dedicated premium connection from Xiamen and an additional direct link from Shanghai to Los Angeles.