An international ship docks at Chu Lai Port to take export shipments to the US, marking the start of a direct shipping route to the market. — Photo Thaco Group

QUẢNG NAM — Following the launch of direct services to major ports in India in August this year, Chu Lai Port has expanded its international network with a direct route to the US.

This marks a significant milestone in its strategy to attract cargo and shipping lines, broaden its transportation network and solidify its position as an international transshipment gateway in the central and the Central Highlands regions.

On November 18, at Chu Lai Port, a shipment of 400 semi-trailers produced by THACO INDUSTRIES was loaded onto a vessel headed for Jacksonville Port on the US east coast.

It marked the first direct shipment from Chu Lai to the US market without the need for transshipment via mother vessels as required in the past.

The route passes through major ports such as Kanda (Japan), Busan (South Korea), Chu Lai (Việt Nam), and Nantong (China), before reaching its final destination in Jacksonville.

With this route, Chu Lai Port opens up opportunities for businesses to quickly access major markets in Asia and the US, Việt Nam's largest export market.

Export shipments are transported by road to the port by THILOGI. — Photo Thaco Group

A spokesperson for an export business said: "The American market, particularly the US, has a large import-export turnover with groups of goods that can be transported two-way by sea such as wooden products, vehicles, spare parts, and more.

“Chu Lai Port’s direct shipping route to the US is essential, allowing exports from the central and the Central Highlands regions to bypass transshipment, and, if combined with convection transport of imported goods, it would help businesses significantly save time and costs."

Optimal solutions for export businesses

The demand for exports to the US from businesses in the central region is huge.

To meet this demand, Chu Lai Port has expanded collaborations with international shipping lines and enhanced its maritime routes to connect with major US ports such as Savannah, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Chicago, New York, Jacksonville, and Seattle at a frequency of four shipments a month.

Notably, Chu Lai Port, which is operated by Trường Hải International Logistics Limited Liability Company (THILOGI), also offers voyage services with flexible schedules, enabling businesses to transport goods quickly during peak production periods or for urgent orders, without relying on international vessels with fixed schedules.

Phan Văn Kỳ, director of Chu Lai Port, said: “Since the deep-water wharf was put into operation with a capacity to handle general cargo ships of up to 50,000 DWT and equipped with modern, high-capacity loading equipment, Chu Lai Port has attracted numerous domestic and international shipping lines, increasing port traffic.

“The development of the direct shipping route to the US will help businesses in Chu Lai, Tam Thăng and Thuận Yên industrial parks (Quảng Nam), VSIP (Quảng Ngãi), and surrounding areas reduce transshipment costs to major ports in the north and south."

THILOGI’s successful registration for an FMC license from the US Federal Maritime Commission has minimised risks and costs for export businesses at delivery and transshipment points because the US market imposes strict regulations on cargo declarations and customs clearance and so on.

International vessels dock at Chu Lai Port to load and unload cargo. — Photo Thaco Group

This year, Chu Lai Port has handled nearly 1,000 vessels across diverse service routes, providing optimal transportation solutions for businesses.

In future the port will continue to expand its market, and enhance the exploitation of export shipments from industrial parks and clusters and economic zones in the central and the Central Highlands regions, Laos and Cambodia to attract new shipping lines to establish new international routes.

Chu Lai Port is accelerating digital transformation, optimising its services and operations to meet the growing import-export demand and aiming for sustainable growth to become a "green port" in future.

Chu Lai Port is not only a strategic connectivity gateway but also a driving force for economic development in the region, delivering significant benefits to import-export businesses. — VNS