On March 6, CMA CGM Group, Marseille, France, announced a $20 billion investment over the next four years, intended to enhance U.S. maritime transport, shipbuilding, port infrastructure, logistics, and air cargo services. The shipping and logistics company, which owns American President Lines (APL), said in a statement that it aims to expand its U.S. operations and create 10,000 new jobs.
CMA CGM said that a significant portion of the investment will support American shipbuilding, aligning with federal initiatives to strengthen domestic maritime capabilities. The company also said it plans to expand APL’s U.S.-flagged fleet by 30 Jones Act-compliant vessels, increasing capacity for government cargo transport. The company noted that in addition to funding new shipbuilding projects, the investment will support workforce training programs.
CMA CGM said it also plans to direct funding toward port infrastructure improvements in New York, Los Angeles, Dutch Harbor, Houston, and Miami, with 400 new and expanded warehouses across the U.S. The company said these enhancements aim to improve operational efficiency, increase digitization, and bolster safety measures for cargo handling and port workers.
The company plans to launch a logistics research and development hub in Boston, focusing on robotics and automation in collaboration with U.S. technology firms. This initiative seeks to drive innovation in logistics operations and improve service efficiency.
The investment timeline aligns with recent labor agreements in the U.S. maritime sector. In February, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) ratified a six-year master contract with the United States Maritime Alliance, securing labor stability at Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports through September 2030. The agreement, effective October 1, 2024, includes record wage increases and strong protections against automation, which the union has identified as a key threat to dockworker employment.
Given these contractual restrictions, CMA CGM’s decision to pursue robotics and automation in its Boston R&D hub raises questions about how these advancements will be integrated into U.S. logistics without conflicting with existing labor protections. How the company balances innovation with workforce stability will be a key issue in the coming years.
CMA CGM currently operates in 40 states and transports over 5 million containers annually to and from the U.S.
