According to multiple shipping media reports, COSCO SHIPPING will launch a brand new Poland Asia direct shipping service coded AEU7 by the end of August 2026.

As the first of its kind, the new route realizes direct container shipping connections between Poland and major Asian markets including Vietnam, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The maiden voyage vessel is scheduled to berth at the Baltic hub port of Gdansk in late August.

Gdansk Port an emerging northern gateway for Central Europe

Gdansk Port is the largest seaport in Poland and one of the most vital container gateways along the Baltic Sea coast. In the past, most Far East cargo bound for Poland had to transit at Northern European ports such as Hamburg, Rotterdam and Bremerhaven before being transported to Poland and other Baltic countries via rail or truck.

The launch of the AEU7 service enables cargo from East and South China to reach Gdansk directly, eliminating intermediate transshipment links, shortening shipping distances and reducing the risk of cargo damage.

COSCO SHIPPING already operates the AEU1 Far East direct route at Gdansk Port. The upcoming AEU7 will bring the total number of direct Far East container routes at the port to two. This offers more shipping space options and flexible vessel schedules for importers and exporters in Poland and Baltic countries.

Route overview of the new AEU7 service

Based on information released by Container News, the complete port call sequence of the AEU7 service is as follows:

Gdansk → Rotterdam → Zeebrugge → Port Klang → Shanghai → Xiamen → Hong Kong → Yantian → Cai Mep Vietnam → Singapore → Felixstowe → Rotterdam → Hamburg → Gdansk

The new route features outstanding operational advantages with a well-designed global loop layout.

On the Asian side, it covers major cargo collection hubs including East China’s Shanghai, South China’s Xiamen, Hong Kong and Yantian, as well as Cai Mep in Vietnam, Port Klang in Malaysia and Singapore, delivering strong cargo consolidation capacity for Southeast Asian shipments.

On the European side, in addition to Gdansk, the route also calls at Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, Felixstowe and Hamburg. Serving as a comprehensive large loop route, it caters to the shipping demands of both Northwest European and Baltic markets.

The route adopts bidirectional port calls. Vessels depart from Gdansk for Rotterdam and Zeebrugge before heading to Asia. On the return voyage from Asia, vessels pass through Singapore, Felixstowe, Rotterdam and Hamburg before returning to Gdansk.

Core benefits for freight forwarders

1. Direct and efficient shipping access for Poland and Baltic markets

Cargo destined for Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, western Belarus and western Ukraine previously required transshipment via Hamburg or Rotterdam. The new AEU7 service provides a direct shipping option to Gdansk, removing redundant transshipment procedures and ensuring more stable vessel schedules. Freight forwarders can prioritize this solution in quotations, especially for time sensitive cargo.

2. Direct Southeast Asia Poland shipping connection

The AEU7 service includes dedicated port calls at Cai Mep in Vietnam and Port Klang in Malaysia, reflecting COSCO SHIPPING’s layout to seize opportunities amid global supply chain shifts. A growing number of manufacturing enterprises have set up factories in Vietnam and Malaysia, driving continuous growth in cargo volumes exported from Southeast Asia to Central Europe. Forwarders with clients owning factories or procurement businesses in Southeast Asia can actively recommend the AEU7 service, which delivers faster transportation than traditional routes with transshipment in Singapore or Hong Kong.

3. Enhanced alternative solution for congested Northern European ports

Northern European ports including Hamburg and Rotterdam have long been plagued by recurring congestion and labor strikes. Gdansk Port features moderate scale and stable operational efficiency, serving as a reliable alternative entry point during peak congestion periods. With the launch of AEU7, cargo from Asia can arrive at Gdansk and be distributed via rail to Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and eastern Germany, creating a more cost effective and time efficient solution than waiting for vacant berths at congested Northern European ports.

Key operational reminders for forwarders

The maiden voyage is scheduled for late August, leaving nearly three months of preparation time. Forwarders can add this new route to their quotation toolkit in advance and notify clients proactively after the official vessel schedule is confirmed in early August.

As a newly launched service, the AEU7’s on time performance and local agent coordination efficiency need to be verified through actual shipments during the initial operation stage.

It is worth noting that the AEU7 route covers multiple ports, resulting in a slightly longer overall voyage compared with point to point direct routes. For clients with strict time requirements, it is recommended to compare the vessel schedules of AEU7 and the existing AEU1 route to select the optimal solution.

COSCO SHIPPING’s launch of two consecutive Far East direct routes at Gdansk Port demonstrates its positive judgment on the growing cargo volume of Central European markets, especially Central and Eastern European regions. For freight forwarders, each new direct route provides a more competitive selling point and sufficient professional basis for customized quotation schemes.