Xiamen-India direct shipping route opens
The vessel Zhonggu Changsha berths at Xiamen Port's Hairun Terminal [Photo/Xiamen Daily]
The vessel Zhonggu Changsha berthed at Xiamen Port's Hairun Terminal on July 10, marking the official launch of the port's first direct route to Mundra Port, a key Indian hub. This new ECSX service has increased Xiamen Port's total number of Belt and Road shipping routes to 101.
The ECSX route operates weekly with five container vessels, cutting transit time to 20 days. Connecting major Belt and Road ports like Port Klang and Colombo, this "maritime express" offers direct access to India's growing market for traders across Fujian's southwest and China's southeastern coast.
In recent years, economic and trade cooperation between Xiamen and India has continued to deepen. The Zhonggu Changsha carried a diverse range of goods, including industrial components, treadmills and accessories, fish products, and canned goods.
As of the end of June, Xiamen Port has established five shipping routes to India. The maiden voyage of the ECSX route not only fills the gap in direct services between Xiamen Port and Mundra Port but will also serve as a crucial link to enhance trade connectivity and mutual prosperity between the core area of the Maritime Silk Road and regions including India, the Middle East, and Africa.
Why Xiamen
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Xiamen is one of the most economically competitive cities in China and was one of the first Special Economic Zones on the Chinese mainland. As a vice-provincial city independently listed on the State development plan, it has provincial-level authority in economic administration and local legislative power. In 2010, the Xiamen SEZ was expanded to cover the entire municipality. Today, Xiamen is a modern and international port city.