The success of China United Lines’ one-off Asia-Europe service was such that the carrier will add more sailings after its first service was sold out in February.
CULines’ first Asia-Europe trip saw the Chinese carrier chartering the 2,702TEU Laila, arranged in collaboration with Xstaff, a German-based purchasing train for European do-it-yourself and supermarket chains.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]Xstaff, which negotiates with liner operators on its members’ behalf, acted as freight rates soared by 800% year-on-year in early 2021, amid high demand and low container availability.
The success of the first trip resulted in CULines and Xstaff arranging a second trip, and the 4,395TEU Ren Jian 17 was chartered from Quanzhou Ansheng Shipping to carry containers from Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Nansha, Hong Kong and Yantian to Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg.
Two more trips are being arranged this week, with the 4,395TEU Ren Jian 25, also chartered from Quanzhou Ansheng, having arrived in Shanghai on 22 April, three days after loading in Qingdao. The ship will also call at Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Nansha, Hong Kong, Yantian, Ho Chi Minh and Singapore, before heading on to Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg.
CULines’ fourth Asia-Europe trip will be undertaken by the 2,034TEU Aisopos II, chartered from Greek owner Capital Maritime & Trading. Aisopos II will pick up containers in Ningbo, Hong Kong and Yantian for delivery into Rotterdam and Hamburg.
Xstaff was not involved in arranging the latter two trips although its goods will be carried by CULines. Xstaff’s spokesperson told Container News, “As a customer of CULines, we’ll use this option of shipping for our members’ goods. In contrast to the first trip, this time Xstaff acts just as a customer with a comprehensive cargo volume.”
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
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