Maersk launches new ocean service to supercharge BD-China trade
FE REPORT | Tuesday, 16 July 2024
Danish shipping and logistics company AP Moller-Maersk has launched a new ocean shipping service between China and Bangladesh to meet rising trade demand, especially in the retail sector.
The new service, called SH3, began on 7 July 2024, increasing capacity on the route between the two countries, Maersk said in a statement on Monday.
The SH3 route starts at Shanghai Port in China, calling at Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Nansha and Tanjung Pelepas before reaching Chittagong in Bangladesh. On the return journey to Shanghai Port, the service stops at Tanjung Palapas -- a hub for long-haul routes to Europe.
The SH3 service complements existing routes SH1, SH2 and IA7 between China and Bangladesh, said the company. Maersk has also adjusted SH1 and SH2 to improve its overall offering.
Combined, these services expand coverage in China, providing more options for loading cargo throughout the week from Shanghai, Nansha and Ningbo, as well as more direct shipping choices to Bangladesh.
The increased options for transit time and frequency will benefit customers by offering not only additional capacity but also greater flexibility and efficiency in their supply chains.
In this fast-paced industry, retailers demand timely deliveries throughout the supply chain to meet rapidly changing customer expectations.
The new network will accelerate the supply chain and benefit Chinese textile raw material exporters as well as garment manufacturers in Bangladesh.
Wen Bing Lim, regional head of Intra-Asia Market at Maersk, said, "Demand for Bangladeshi textiles and garments in Western markets is steadily growing. Our customers have been calling for increased capacity for raw materials coming into Bangladesh and finished garments being exported."
The redesigned network will provide Bangladeshi textile manufacturers with greater flexibility and speed for both importing raw materials and exporting finished goods, supporting the country's rapidly developing ready-made garment (RMG) industry, Lim added.
Nikhil D'Lima, head of Maersk in Bangladesh, said textile exports account for a significant portion of China's exports to Bangladesh.
The country's RMG industry comprises over 4,000 factories serving more than 100 international clothing brands, he said, adding that Bangladesh exports a wide range of knitwear and woven garments, such as shirts, trousers, T-shirts, denim, jackets and sweaters to over 150 countries.