China has launched its first ASEAN container shipping route under the national “on-time, cost-reduction” programme, connecting the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan with Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Announced by the Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) on 12 December, the new service aims to improve schedule reliability, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency along a key East China–Southeast Asia trade corridor.
Improving Punctuality and Operational Efficiency
The new Ningbo–Ho Chi Minh route focuses on tighter schedule control through precise vessel planning, improved port-call coordination, and closer collaboration between port operators and shipping companies. These measures are designed to minimise port stays and transit times, delivering more punctual, reliable, and economical services for cargo owners.
Ningbo-Zhoushan, known for its narrow channels and heavy vessel traffic, has undergone significant traffic-management reforms since 2019. Initiatives such as an integrated vessel traffic management system and a unified ship timetable published one day in advance have increased the main-channel on-time rate to around 98% and improved vessel entry and exit efficiency by approximately 35%. These upgrades have laid the foundation for the successful launch of the new ASEAN route.
Cost Savings, Fuel Efficiency, and Emissions Reduction
The Ningbo–Ho Chi Minh service forms part of a broader Zhejiang-led programme that will be rolled out nationwide by December 2025, covering 12 major coastal ports and 22 shipping companies. At Ningbo-Zhoushan alone, the initiative has reduced cumulative vessel waiting time by more than 25,000 hours and helped shipping companies save over 867 million yuan (around US$120 million) in operating costs.
Earlier pilot projects conducted between December 2023 and late 2024 across seven Chinese ports showed strong environmental benefits. A total of 22 routes saved approximately 19,000 tonnes of fuel and reduced emissions by around 60,000 tonnes across 454 vessel calls, while also cutting charter hire costs and berth waiting times.
The launch of China’s first ASEAN container route under the “on-time, cost-reduction” programme marks a significant step toward more efficient, reliable, and environmentally sustainable regional shipping. Backed by advanced traffic management and nationwide expansion plans, the initiative strengthens Ningbo-Zhoushan’s role as a critical maritime gateway and reinforces China’s commitment to smarter, greener international trade connectivity.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: PORT NEWS
