Cargo shipped from Dalian to the Middle East no longer needs to transit via Busan or Shanghai.
On May 26, Liaoning Port Group officially launched a new direct shipping route from Dalian to the Middle East in cooperation with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). The launch fills the gap of direct shipping services from Dalian Port to the Middle East. Meanwhile, the newly signed Shanghai Liaoning Express Service has built a seamless connection between domestic trade and ocean shipping for Northeast China’s cargo via Dalian transit.
Basic Information of the New Route
Fleet Scale: 8 container ships with a capacity of 20,000 to 24,000 TEU are deployed for the route.
Port Calls: The route provides direct access to major Middle Eastern ports in India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and other regional hubs.
Voyage Comparison: It cuts the shipping time by at least 10 days compared with traditional transit routes via Busan or Shanghai.
Supporting Connection: The Shanghai Liaoning Express Service optimizes and increases the frequency of domestic shipping routes linking Yingkou Dalian and Shanghai. It enables the one-stop document service for Northeast China’s cargo, covering domestic port consolidation and direct ocean shipment from Dalian.
Practical Tips for Freight Forwarders
Update quotation schemes for Middle East bound clients in Northeast China on a priority basis
This is particularly crucial for export enterprises with time-sensitive cargo such as auto parts, mechanical and electrical equipment, and chemical products. The 10-day time saving delivers substantial competitive advantages. You can highlight the direct shipping service as a value-added selling point in quotations to help clients reduce inventory turnover pressure.
Monitor the initial operation period and promote bulk business after trial shipments
As the route has just been launched, the on-time performance of the first few voyages, coordination efficiency of local agents and cabin space release rhythm still require continuous observation. It is recommended to arrange a trial shipment for clients first, and launch large-scale promotion after the shipping schedule proves stable.
Design full-link logistics solutions for Northeast China via the Shanghai Liaoning Express Service
For clients in inland areas of Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces, you can provide combined quotation plans covering domestic shipping (Yingkou/Dalian to Shanghai) and ocean shipping (Shanghai to the Middle East), and offer it as an alternative alongside the direct shipping solution. The differences in timeliness and cost between the two routes can help you demonstrate professional capabilities to clients.
Keep track of dynamic surcharges for Middle East shipping routes
War risk surcharge and bunker adjustment factor remain the major cost components for current shipments. It is advisable to list basic ocean freight and various additional surcharges separately in quotations, with a note that all surcharges will be charged in accordance with the actual standards implemented by the shipping company, so as to avoid disputes after cargo arrival.
MSC’s increased layout of direct shipping routes in Northeast China reflects the shipping giant’s optimistic judgment on the sustained growth of Middle East bound cargo volume from the Northeast inland region. For freight forwarders in Northeast China, this new route is a valuable option to add to the quotation toolkit.
