Taiwanese intra-Asia container carrier TS Lines is launching two services between China and Southeast Asia, hoping to take advantage of the resumption of Chinese port operations and rising exports of finished goods from Southeast Asia.
On 20 March 2020, TS Lines will launch the Manila Bay Express (MBX) service, which will run parallel to the company’s current China Philippines Express (CPX) service. Collectively, both services will use three 1,700TEU vessels. MBX will have two weekly sailings while CPX has one weekly sailing.
TS Lines general manager Tu Honglin said that so far in 2020, while Chinese containerised exports to Europe and the Americas have fallen because of the COVID-19 outbreak, shipments between China and Southeast Asia have grown by 3% year-on-year, as a result of the trade dispute between the US and China.
The Philippines has also been importing intermediate goods and machinery from China, said Tu, who added that Chinese factory and port operations are now around 80% of pre-COVID-19 levels.
Business activity in Shenzhen is said to have fully restarted, although recovery has been slow in Chongqing and Wuhan, the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Tu said that stevedoring operations in many Chinese ports are now back to normal, and the new services will start in time.
The MBX service loop is Shantou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Nansha, Shekou, Manila North Port, Manila South Port and Nansha. The CPX loop is Nansha, Shekou, Hong Kong, Manila North Port, Manila South Port and Shantou.
TS Lines’ other new service is the North China Express 2 (NCX2) that will be run jointly with its compatriot peer, Cheng Lie Navigation (CNCLine), a CMA CGM subsidiary.
The service loop for NCX2 is Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shekou, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong and Tianjin.
The service will start on 18 March, with TS Lines deploying a 2,500TEU vessel that will depart from Tianjin, while CNCLine will deploy a ship that will set out from Ho Chi Minh on 24 March.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
