Global shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has announced the launch of a new direct shipping service, Iroko, connecting major Asian ports with Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.

The service, which kicks off on September 10, will run weekly and is designed to strengthen MSC’s presence in the region while boosting trade flows between Asia and Africa.

According to MSC, the Iroko service will directly link China, Singapore, Nigeria, Congo Republic, Benin, and Angola, offering faster and more reliable shipping options for businesses.

For Nigeria, the new direct calls to Lagos and Onne ports are expected to significantly support the country’s growing import and export market. Likewise, the inclusion of Cotonou in Benin will further reinforce MSC’s strong presence in the sub-region.

The planned port rotation for the Iroko service includes:

Ningbo – Nansha – Singapore – Pointe Noire – Cotonou – Lagos – Onne – Lobito – Singapore – Xiamen.

MSC explained that this setup will deliver major transit time improvements, especially to Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Namibia, thanks to its first port call at Pointe Noire. It also provides a direct export route from Lobito to China, a move expected to strengthen Africa’s role in global trade.

With the launch of Iroko, MSC reaffirmed its commitment to being a reliable logistics partner for Africa, expanding its standalone services to meet the rising demand for efficient, cost-effective, and dependable shipping solutions between Asia and West Africa.