The arrival of the “Kawa Ningbo” in Wilhelmshaven marks the start of the fastest direct connection between Northern Europe and China.
The departure of the “Kawa Ningbo”, a container ship operated by Chinese shipping company Kawa Shipping, launched a new direct connection between the ports of Ningbo and Wilhelmshaven. With a transit time of just 26 days, the new China-Europe Express (CEX) for container transportation by sea is currently the fastest waterside direct connection between China’s busiest port of Ningbo (South China) and Northern Europe.
With the CEX, the shipping company is opening up new markets. “In the initial phase, the CEX service will initially offer shippers a monthly departure between Ningbo and Wilhelmshaven. In the second half of the year, we are planning to expand to fortnightly departures with container ships in the 5,000 TEU size class,” said Maud Lau, Managing Director of Kawa Shipping.
Connection to Ningbo “is unique”
This new connection was initiated by the branch of the Zhejiang Seaport Logistics Group, which has been operating at the JadeWeserPort freight centre since September 2024. “Compared to its market competitors on the northern European coast, this connection is currently unique and therefore a unique selling point for JadeWeserPort,” says Marc-Oliver Hauswald, Managing Director Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven JadeWeserPort-Marketing.
For the Chinese partners of the CEX service, the currently fastest liner service between China and Northern Europe is an impressive example of the successful expansion of the “Maritime Silk Road”. China and the partners involved are thus pursuing the goal of making transportation services and logistics solutions more efficient, cost-effective and service-oriented for the benefit of the economy.
The Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Hamburg, Wu Cong, said at the launch of the CEX service in Wilhelmshaven: “The new direct liner service not only facilitates the exchange of goods between China and Europe, but also plays a positive role in stabilising global production and supply chains.”
