HONG KONG's TS Lines has announced it will launch a China to Southeast Asia service (CSE) with Cosco on February 18 to meet rising market demands.
The CSE service deploying four 3,500-TEU vessels will rotate through Shanghai, Qingdao, Ningbo, Guangzhou-Nansha, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Shekou, Jakarta, Port Klang, Singapore, Hong Kong and return to Shanghai.
TS Lines will also join Cosco in a slot swap on North China to Manila service which deploys three 1,800-TEU vessels which rotate through Dalian, Tianjin, Xinggang, Yingkou, Ningbo, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Manila, Xiamen and back to Dalian.
"TS Lines is committed to improving services for the south east Asian market to meet strong demand, boosted by the ASEAN's CAFTA trades." said a statementfrom the company. "We will actively go on service cooperation with Cosco to expand the Asian market."
The two shipping lines have increased sailings on a three-ship China to Japan service, adding a new Shanghai to Nagoya express loop based on services such as the Shanghai to Kanto and Qingdao to Kanto strings. TS Lines will also share slots on services from Dalian-based Goto Shipping's Qingdao to Kanto and between Qingdao and Kansai services, adding strength to the China-Japan network.
With a view to developing the potential market for the Haiphong service, TS Lines has launched aHong Kong to Haiphong service "HPH2" starting February 14, thus increasing sailings between the two ports to twice a week. Cargo departing from Hong Kong can be loaded Thursdays and Sundays.
The carrier has consolidated Taiwan to Hong Kong service and resumed the THK service using a 1,500 TEU vessel on 11th February. As TS Lines holds a more optimistic outlook for the Korea to Taiwan and Hong Kong markets, it plans to add a KTH service from February 29, which will rotate through Incheon, Ulsan, Busan, Keelung, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Shekou, Xiamen and back to Incheon.