Photo credit: CMA CGM
French shipping giant CMA CGM Group has unveiled a landmark $20bn investment plan in America’s maritime transportation, logistics and supply chain capabilities over the next four years. Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group, stood alongside US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office last week.
Saadé said the French liner company will grow its U.S.-flagged fleet, expand the capacity of key container ports on both coasts, develop warehousing across the country, and establish a significant air cargo hub in Chicago. The Group will also deploy five new Boeing 777 freighters, operated by American pilots.
The investment strengthens its historical maritime transport and logistics partnership with the United States, supporting the economy, boosting American exports, and creating 10,000 new jobs.
“You know, we lost our way for many years,” US President Donald Trump said last week.
“We haven’t done anything. We used to build a ship a day and now we essentially don’t build ships.”
“We are going to start that and we’re going to be announcing, next week or the week after a massive new program for building very large, the largest ships in the world,” Trump added in his statement to reporters.
The announcement reinforces the Group’s 35-year commitment to the U.S. market, where it currently operates in 40 states and employs 15,000 Americans.
As a partner in U.S. trade, the container giant and owner of the U.S. flag carrier American President Lines (APL), CMA CGM, transports over 5 million shipping containers to and from the country each year.
As part of the new program, CMA CGM Group will contribute to the development of American maritime capabilities through a range of targeted investments, the press release stated.
It advances the U.S. administration’s recently-announced priority to strengthen American shipbuilding capabilities, and includes bolstering APL’s U.S. flag capacity and enhancing maritime resources with new jobs, skills, and technologies.
The Group will also develop port infrastructure in key locations across the U.S., including New York, Los Angeles, Dutch Harbor, Houston, and Miami.
“This investment will improve U.S. logistics and supply chain infrastructure through the development of state-of-the-art warehousing and automotive logistics platforms across the country,” says the company.
As part of this investment, CMA CGM Group will also expand American air cargo capacity. “Anchored by a new hub in Chicago, the Group will deploy five new Boeing 777 freighters, operated by American pilots, to strengthen U.S. trade and connectivity and ensure the reliable transport of critical and time-sensitive goods.”
CMA CGM will open a new logistics R&D hub in Boston, focusing on advanced robotics and automation solutions.
Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group, said: “I am proud to build on our long-standing relationship with the United States through this commitment of $20 billion to the country’s maritime future and logistics capabilities.
“Over the next four years, we will significantly grow our U.S.-flagged fleet, expand the capacity of key container ports on both coasts, develop state-of-the-art warehousing across the country, and establish a significant air cargo hub in Chicago.
“This will create 10,000 new American jobs and further strengthen our partnership with American customers and public authorities.”
