The new service, deploying six 2,500 TEU containerships, provides a direct link for customers from north China to Southeast Asia, with improved transit times and more service offerings, reports Colchester's Seatrade Maritime News.

Port calls include Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao, Busan, Incheon, Vung Tau, Leam Chabang, Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas, Jakarta and Panjang.

This new service is the fourth new shipping routes that Dalian port has opened up for RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) countries and is the second Southeast Asia service launched in July connecting with Vietnam and Thailand.

In the first half of 2022, Dalian port posted a container volume of 1.88 million TEU, an increase of 10.8 per cent.