Chinese container shipping service provider China United Lines (CULines) has announced the plan for its first direct liner service connecting China with Europe.
Katherine Si | Jan 22, 2021
The company’s maiden service to Europe will call at Shekou and Yantian in Guangdong province, South China, followed by Hong Kong and before connecting to the major European ports of Rotterdam and Hamburg.
The new service will be launched by CULines on 6 February.
Related: China United Lines launches joint international shipping service
The move by CULines into the Asia – Europe comes at time when container freight rates on the trade lane have skyrocketed due to a sharp rise in demand in the second half of 2020, and an a shortage of empty containers especially at Chinese loading ports.
The Chinese container line has until focused on domestic and intra-Asia trades connecting to South and Southeast Asia. This marks its first foray into the longhaul container trades, dominated by the major lines and alliances.
Related: Shanghai – Europe spot container rates jump 24% in a week
In October last year, CULines started a China-Vietnam shipping service at Hainan Yangpu port.
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