Initially, the CMA owned one vessel deployed between Marseille, Beirut and Latakia. Yet as early as 1983, Jacques Saadé decides to open his horizons beyond the Mediterranean Sea and crosses the Suez Canal to expand lines to the Red Sea, then to Asia. An initiative reported by many as perilous or even foolish for a small regional player. But the audacity turns out to be rewarding and the Group continued its growth: Jacques Saadé is the first and foremost to bet on China and opens the first CMA offices as early as 1992, ten years prior to the entry of the country into the WTO.
In the early 1990s, the entrepreneurial adventure becomes a family one: Rodolphe Saadéand Tanya Saadé join their father in CMA, contributing to the corporation’s growth and fulfilling the wishes of Jacques Saadé to see CMA become a successful family business.
New development in 1997: the CMA becomes CMA CGM after acquiring the Compagnie Générale Maritime (CGM), and became the only major French player in maritime transport. Following this acquisition, the Group grew significantly and reached the 12th position in world shipping industry.