Africa-trade specialist Safmarine and sister-company Maersk Line will introduce a second direct weekly shipping service between Asia and West Africa next month.

A statement from Safmarine said starting on September 3 direct port calls on the Far East West Africa 2 (FEW 2) service will be made at Port Kelang (Malaysia), Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia), Lome (Togo), Cotonou (Benin) and Lagos/Apapa (Nigeria).

Safmarine Africa region executive Alan Jones said: "Trade between Africa and Asia is very strong at present, and we see the new service as an opportunity to further grow our business in partnership with our customers."

The WAF 10 service will be renamed the Far East/West Africa 1 (FEW1) service, the statement added, and will offer a new port rotation of: Nansha, Hong Kong, Tanjung Pelepas, Walvis Bay (Namibia), Tema (Ghana), Lagos/Apapa (Nigeria) in West Africa.

The carrier did not state when the revised FEW1 will begin.