Pacific International Lines (PIL) has launched a new weekly container shipping service between Asia and South Africa, adding capacity on the trade route and offering inland rail connections between Durban and Johannesburg.
The Ubuntu Express (UBX) service had recently made its inaugural call at Durban Gateway Terminal, PIL said. The service links Central and South China, Taiwan and Singapore directly with Durban and Cape Town. Its rotation is Shanghai, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Shekou, Singapore, Durban, Cape Town, Singapore and Shanghai.
The service had been introduced in response to growing trade demand between Asia and South Africa and was launched to coincide with South Africa's peak citrus export season, PIL said.
The service provides additional reefer plug capacity for fresh produce exports and weekly sailings connecting South African exporters with markets in the Far East and beyond.
Inland connections
Customers could move cargo between Durban and Johannesburg under a through bill of lading using PIL's carrier haulage and rail services, the shipping line said.
PIL also offers onward transport from Durban to Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Lesotho through its inland logistics network.
“South Africa is an important market within PIL's global network. Having served the region for almost 30 years, the launch of UBX marks our latest investment in enhancing connectivity between Asia and Southern Africa,” said PIL South Africa managing director, Peter Carter James.
Asia-SA capacity expands
The launch follows Evergreen Line's introduction of its weekly Far East-South Africa Express (SAF) service, which serves the same core Asian ports before calling at Durban and Cape Town.
Evergreen's service calls at Shanghai, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Shekou and Singapore before arriving in Durban and Cape Town, adding further weekly capacity on the Asia-South Africa trade.
