Transit time of 24 days from Wuhan to UK ‘even more competitive’ compared to all-ocean alternative.
Davies Turner says its direct Express China Rail service has become even more appealing to shippers due to the increased transit times resulting from the decision by several container shipping lines on the Asia to Europe trade to re-route sailings.
“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and much lower fuel bunker prices has seen a sharp upturn in the number of container line services between Asia and Europe being re-routed via the Cape of Good Hope enabling the lines to avoid the Suez Canal – and its transit fees and dues,” explained Tony Cole, head of supply chain services at the UK forwarder.
“We understand that at least 20 sailings in the Asia to Europe trade lane are being diverted, adding several more days to the transit times of those services.”
Cole continued: “If the lines maintain this revised routing, it means that with a transit time of just 24 days from Wuhan to Dartford, our direct Express China Rail service offers an even more competitive transit time versus the all-ocean alternative from ports on China’s North Eastern and Eastern coasts.
“This change of policy by some of the shipping lines will help us to attract even more shipments currently moving by oceanfreight to the faster overland option.”
Davies Turner launched the dedicated weekly fixed-day rail consol import service from China to the UK in November 2018.
Last month, Cole told Lloyd’s Loading List that ts pricing and transit times were already competitive and attracting growing demand even before the disruptions caused by the spread of the coronavirus, and that its appeal had increased significantly following its resumption in March.
On departure from Wuhan, the intermodal rail service heads direct to Duisburg in Germany. Containers are then trucked under bond to the port of Rotterdam and transported by ferry to Purfleet, near Dartford, in the suburbs of London for on-carriage by truck to Davies Turner’s distribution centre, where they are discharged, customs cleared and delivered.
Source: lloyd’s
