Israeli carrier Zim and 2M Alliance partners Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) are cutting back on the number of services where they cooperate.

The three lines will renew a slot-swapping agreement from Asia to the US East Coast (USEC) that has been in existence for three-and-a-half years.

But the carriers will end a similar collaboration for services linking Asia to the Mediterranean and the Pacific Northwest (Asia-Canada) trades.