REGIONAL container lines on the intra-Asia tradelanes are consolidating their networks to tap into volume growth, propelled by a sourcing uptick.
Pacific International Lines (PIL). Regional Container Lines(RCL) and Interasia Lines (IAL) have inked a vessel-sharing agreement which will kick off a new loop connecting China, Vietnam, Singapore and East India towards the end of April.
The joint CVI (China-Vietnam-India) service,scheduled to launch on April 22, will use vessels with an average capacity of 2.200 TEU.operating a weekly rotation of Ningbo. Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh. Singapore. Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Port Klang (Westport), Ho Chi Minh, Ningbo, reports UK's The Loadstar.
Taiwan-based IAL, which brands the service China -Saigon -India (CSI), added: "The CSI deployment will mark another major milestone for Interasia Lines,providing an alternative China to East India schedule to complement its ICl3 and Cl5 services.
"With the additional service coverage for Vietnam and Vizag, Interasia Lines reaffirms its intensive product linkages for East India with the China and South-east Asia markets."
The three partners already have VSA arrangements for intra-Asia connections out of India, which include a fve 2.800-TEU-vessel string jointly opened in October. This rotates Nansha, Shekou, Singapore, Port Klang (Westport), Port Klang (Northport), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust/Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Port Klang (Westport), Haiphong, Nansha.
The latest launch comes on the heels of Wan Hai Lines rolling out a new solo weekly loop,the CI7, on the same route, which was due to start last week.
Some 5.5 million TEU moves in and out of India's east coast corridor, the bulk of which-for larger global markets. such as Europe and the US-however, continues to be transshipped over south-east Asia hubs in the absence of limited direct deepsea calls to India.