SITC Container Lines has launched a China-Vietnam service (CVS), which connects the Incheon port in South Korea to the two countries.
The CVS service was launched at the encouragement of the Incheon Port Authority (IPA), which has been working to connect a bigger number of routes to the South Korean port, which is marketed as a gateway into Seoul.
The service began on 24 June, when the 2,524TEU SITC Davao departed Incheon to sail under the following port rotation Incheon, Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Ho Chi Minh, Qui Nhon, Xiamen and Incheon.
SITC has decided to deploy three ships with a capacity from 2,400TEU to 2,500TEU on the CVS service.
IPA expects that the new service will result in higher cargo volumes. In particular, it is expected that trade between the southern part of Vietnam and Incheon will be activated by calls at the southern Vietnamese port of Qui Nhon.
Vietnam has been producing increased containerised exports, leading several liner operators to expand their South East Asian connections. Volumes between East Asia and South East Asia, especially Vietnam, grew after US-China trade tensions caused manufacturers to shift some production from China to Vietnam.
CVS is the fourth newly opened container route from Incheon Port this year with the total number of container services calling the South Korean port reaching 66, including 10 car ferry routes.
“The opening of a new service linking Incheon Port and Vietnam will increase Incheon Port’s competitiveness and expand the options for shippers and forwarders in the metropolitan Seoul area,” commented an IPA official.
Incheon’s 2020 throughput was up nearly 6% year-on-year to over 3.27 million TEU, which represents an all-time record.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
