MTT SAISUNEE operated by RCL made its maiden call on Chu Lai Port on August 28. — Photo courtesy of THACO

HCM CITY — Chu Lai Port has started new shipping routes directly connecting to major ports in India, China and other countries in Asia.

Its expansion and diversification of international routes have solidified Chu Lai Port's role as a connection hub for import and export in the central and Central Highlands regions.

MTT SAISUNEE (sailing under the Malaysian flag) operated by RCL made her maiden call at Chu Lai Port on August 28, marking the start of a direct shipping route to India.

It took automotive parts, mechanical components, fruits, household goods, furniture, and textiles exported by businesses in the Tam Thăng Industrial Park, THACO Chu Lai (Quảng Nam), and the VSIP Industrial Park (Quảng Ngãi) to India.

RCL, founded in 1979 in Thailand, is one of Asia's leading shipping lines.

It currently owns and operates 49 container ships to 69 destinations in India and other countries across Asia and the Middle East.

RCL's fleet has a total capacity of nearly 79,000 TEUs and meets all international safety and environmental protection standards.

Initially Chu Lai Port is partnering with RCL to ply on the Xiamen (China) - Chu Lai - Port Klang (Malaysia) - Chennai - Kolkata - Kattupalli (India) route with a frequency of three trips per month.

MTT SAISUNEE transports import and export goods for enterprises in the central region. — Photo courtesy of THACO

This collaboration provides customers with various transport options at optimal costs while boosting the import-export markets in the central and Central Highlands regions.

Diversifying shipping routes and enhancing service capacity

As a major import-export gateway in the central region and a hub for transit goods from the Central Highlands in Việt Nam, Laos, and Cambodia, Chu Lai Port is intensifying cooperation with international shipping lines (such as SITC, CMA CGM, ZIM, RCL...) to develop intra-Asian routes directly connecting with China, South Korea and Japan and trans-Pacific routes to markets in America and Europe.

With the opening of direct shipping routes to major ports in India such as Chennai, Kolkata, Kattupalli, Nhava Sheva, and Mundra, Chu Lai Port provides optimal transport solutions to meet the import-export needs of enterprises in the region, facilitating the entry of Vietnamese goods into the South Asian market through India.

Henceforth, businesses in the central region can export and import goods to and from India via Chu Lai port instead of transshipping to ports in the north and south of the country, substantially reducing time and costs.

Phan Văn Kỳ, Director of Chu Lai Port, said: "We are focusing on comprehensively investing in and upgrading infrastructure, and embracing the use of information technology in port operations to enhance service quality.

“This will increase connectivity with global shipping corporations and international shipping lines while attracting more import-export cargo through the port."

Chu Lai Port exhances exploitation of direct shipping route to India. — Photo courtesy of THACO

Thanks to the addition of a range of new shipping routes and the continuous expansion of the customer network, the cargo volume through Chu Lai Port in 2024 is expected to increase by over 40 per cent compared to 2023.

Going forward, Chu Lai Port will continue to promote partnerships with international shipping lines to increase the operating frequency of vessels while completing and commissioning a 50,000-tonne wharf to accommodate large ships to meet a growing demand.

It will also expand the capacity of its berths, warehouses and transport vehicles, and focus on exploiting goods with strong export growth potential such as agricultural and forestry items and minerals in the Central Highlands, Laos and Cambodia.

Alongside solutions to improve its service quality, Chu Lai Port is also streamlining processes and procedures, optimising systems to gradually realise its goal of becoming an international transshipment hub. — VNS