French liner and logistics giant CMA CGM has agreed to acquire FedEx Supply Chain in a $1.4 billion deal, adding a large bolt-on to its CEVA Logistics platform and significantly expanding its contract logistics footprint in North America, according to Splash247.
Deal Details
Under the agreement, FedEx Supply Chain will be folded into CEVA Logistics, CMA CGM’s logistics arm. The acquisition is expected to nearly triple CEVA’s North American contract logistics business. The combined operation will have around 150 warehouses, taking CEVA’s wider North American presence to more than 240 locations and about 20,000 staff. FedEx Supply Chain brings nearly 10,000 employees and a warehouse and distribution platform focused on contract logistics, fulfilment and supply chain management.
The transaction is expected to close in 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. The air and ocean agreements are expected to start in phases through to 2028.
Strategic Impact
Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and chief executive officer of CMA CGM, said the acquisition and partnership with FedEx marked a major step in the development of CEVA and the group’s North American logistics activities. Raj Subramaniam, president and chief executive officer of FedEx, said the sale would allow the US parcel and freight group to sharpen its focus on higher-value sectors including healthcare, automotive, aerospace and data centres.
| Metric | Before Acquisition | After Acquisition (Combined) |
|---|---|---|
| North American warehouses (CEVA) | 90 (approx.) | ~150 (FedEx) at 240 total CEVA locations |
| Employees | ~10,000 (CEVA) | ~20,000 |
| Contract logistics revenue | N/A | Nearly tripled |
Note: Pre-acquisition numbers for CEVA North America are not detailed in the source. The table illustrates the scaling impact.
Commercial Agreements
CMA CGM and FedEx also plan to enter into multi-year commercial agreements covering ocean and air freight. Under the planned ocean agreement, CMA CGM will become a preferred, but non-exclusive, ocean carrier for FedEx. The two companies also intend to work together on selected air cargo capacity, a move aimed at lifting aircraft utilisation and adding more flexible long-haul capacity to their networks.
CMA CGM’s Acquisition Spree
This deal adds to a long acquisition run by CMA CGM. The group bought CEVA in 2019 and has since used the platform to build a much larger logistics business. In 2024, CMA CGM completed the $5.2 billion acquisition of Bolloré Logistics, its largest acquisition since the group was founded in 1978. CEVA has also integrated Ingram Micro’s CLS division and GEFCO, while CMA CGM has continued to add regional and downstream logistics assets, including Turkey’s Borusan Tedarik and Lebanon-based Fattal.
Implications for Shippers and Operators
For freight forwarders and logistics managers, the deal signals a major consolidation in contract logistics and a growing integration between ocean carriers and logistics providers. Shippers using FedEx Supply Chain should expect a transition to CEVA’s platform, potentially gaining access to CMA CGM’s ocean network and air cargo capacity. The preferred carrier agreement gives FedEx a competitive ocean rate structure, which may influence rate negotiations across the Transpacific eastbound trade. Operators should monitor regulatory approvals and prepare for integration timelines that extend through 2028.