Maersk is introducing a new weekly ocean service connecting North Europe and Italy with Egypt, aimed at improving transit times and strengthening connectivity across a corridor that continues to show steady growth in trade volumes and economic activity.
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The Baltic Sea – SLA service links Gdansk, Bremerhaven, and Genoa (Vado Ligure) with both Port Said and Alexandria, offering a direct routing into Egypt and the wider East Mediterranean. By reducing reliance on indirect routings, the service is expected to shorten transit times and offer greater reliability over complicated alternatives. Please see below for the service rotation:
Gdansk – Bremerhaven – Genoa Vado Ligure – Port Said East – Alexandria – Port Tangier – Gdansk
A fixed weekly rotation supports greater consistency in shipment planning, while fewer transhipments can help reduce variability in lead times. This is particularly relevant for supply chains that are increasingly sensitive to disruption and require greater control over inventory levels and delivery timelines.
The development of the service reflects broader shifts in trade dynamics across Europe and the Mediterranean. Trade between the European Union and Egypt reached approximately €32.3 billion in 2025 according to the European Commission, underlining the scale and importance of this corridor. Within this, Italy plays a central role as Egypt’s largest European trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching around $6.6 billion in 2024, highlighting strong and sustained demand for connectivity between the two markets.
Growth in North Europe is also contributing to changing demand patterns. Poland, in particular, remains one of the faster-growing economies in the EU, with GDP growth of around 3.6% in 2025 and forecasts of approximately 3.5% continuing into 2026. This economic expansion is driving higher import demand and increasing the need for more direct maritime links into key markets such as Egypt.
Egypt’s position as a regional gateway further reinforces the relevance of the SLA service. From Port Said and Alexandria, cargo can connect into a broader network serving destinations across the world. Egypt exported goods worth over $53 billion in 2024, with key markets including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Italy, demonstrating the country’s role as an important hub linking multiple regional trade flows.
At the same time, supply chain resilience remains a priority for many businesses. Ongoing disruptions have highlighted the importance of simpler, more predictable routings. Services with direct port calls can reduce dependency on multiple handling points, which may help limit delays and improve overall reliability.
In corridors where transit time and connectivity are key considerations, incremental improvements in routing and frequency can influence how companies structure their supply chains and how cargo is allocated across services.
By providing regular, direct calls between North Europe, Italy and Egypt, the SLA service responds to current trade patterns while supporting supply chains that increasingly depend on speed, resilience, and operational simplicity in a more volatile global environment.