With the departure of the container ship “MSC Sveva” from the Dalian Container Terminal on February 18, a new direct shipping route between the northeastern Chinese port city of Dalian and the Mediterranean region was officially opened.
The new route connects key ports in Egypt, Turkey and Israel, creating a more efficient and reliable maritime trade link between China’s Northeast and the Mediterranean region.
The route will be operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which plans to deploy a total of 16 container ships, each with a capacity of 19,000 TEU. The ships will transport a variety of goods, including chemicals, cars and car parts, mechanical equipment and mineral raw materials.
The new connection is intended to further strengthen trade and economic cooperation between China’s northeast and the Mediterranean countries. China’s third largest trading partner – Turkey – will be connected to important ports such as Çanakkale, Istanbul and Tekirdağ. This will intensify bilateral trade and deepen industrial and logistical integration between the two countries. Turkey mainly exports agricultural products such as fruit, oils, pistachios, grain, seafood and dairy products to China. In return, the country mainly purchases machinery, steel, chemical products, telecommunications equipment and textiles from China.
German companies benefit from MSC service
The international freight forwarder Jilin Flying Tiger Logistics Group Co Ltd shipped over 200 tons of freight on the “MSC Sveva”, destined for Turkey. The new route shortens the transportation time by about ten days compared to existing shipping routes, said Wang Nan, deputy general manager of Jilin Flying Tiger Logistics Group. According to Wang, the new connection will reduce capital and storage costs and improve the stability of supply chains.
The new shipping route also opens up additional transport options and new trade routes for German companies. German shipping companies have the opportunity to expand their network from China to the Mediterranean and benefit from the new connection through cooperation with MSC.
The port of Dalian currently operates 106 container shipping routes, including 93 international connections, reaching over 300 ports in more than 160 countries and regions worldwide. This year, the port network will be further expanded and optimized to facilitate international trade and further strengthen the stability of global supply chains. (rup)
