Tianjin Port has launched a new direct foreign trade shipping route to South Africa.

On April 18, 2024, Tianjin Port successfully opened the first direct container liner route to South Africa, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Ingwe route, and the first ship "Mediterranean Migsan" set sail. A total of 12 ships with a container capacity of 5700 to 11000 TEUs will be put into operation on the route, with weekly service connecting major domestic ports such as Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo and Shekou to Durban Port in South Africa and then returning via Colombo and Hong Kong to form a closed-loop transportation network. This route is mainly for steel, building materials, chemicals, automobiles and other goods exported to South Africa. Compared with the previous transit mode, it can shorten the voyage by about 10 days, significantly improve the logistics efficiency and reduce costs of enterprises in the hinterland of Tianjin Port. At the same time, the route will also promote the faster delivery of high-quality mineral products from South Africa to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and ensure the supply of regional industrial raw materials. Tianjin Port Group said that it will continue to expand the global route network, help build the domestic and international double cycle strategic fulcrum in the northern region, and serve the national strategy and regional economic development.