China launches direct shipping route to Mekong Delta's largest city via new river-to-sea canal
A new container shipping route connecting Nanning Port in China's Guangxi Province to Cai Cui Port in Can Tho, the largest city in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, via the newly opened Pinglu Canal has begun operations.
On September 24, China inaugurated a new river-to-sea canal connecting its Mekong Delta's largest city, Can Tho, to its Beibu Gulf Port. Representatives from Vietnam National Shipping Lines, China's Beibu Gulf Port Group, and Can Tho Port JSC gathered to mark the occasion. The inaugural vessel, BBG Nan Ninh Bo Run, boasts a capacity of 4,900 tons and can carry 500 containers.
The route operates twice a month, with an average transit time of seven days. Up to 25% of each ship's capacity can be reserved for refrigerated containers.
The new transit cuts the journey by over 560 kilometers compared to the traditional route through the Pearl River, reducing transportation time by seven to ten days and saving 18% to 30% on logistics costs. This direct shipping route facilitates two-way trade, expediting the export of Vietnam's Mekong Delta agricultural products and seafood to China, and speeding up the import of machinery parts and chemicals from southwestern China into Vietnam.
Le Cong Ly, vice chairman of Can Tho, emphasized that this route establishes a regular, direct link between two major production hubs.
Can Tho's Mekong Delta region is known for its rice, seafood, and fruit production, while Guangxi and southwestern China offer large consumer markets and diverse distribution networks. The new shipping service provides regional businesses with a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative for imports and exports. While the launch of the route is a significant milestone, officials stress that it is only the beginning.
To ensure long-term success, operators and partners must secure stable two-way cargo volumes, maintain seamless end-to-end services, and continuously improve the route based on operational feedback.
The 134-kilometer Pinglu Canal, a crucial component of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, links western China with Southeast Asia and international markets. The network currently connects 166 stations across 18 Chinese provinces and regions with nearly 600 ports in over 120 countries and regions. As of September 10, trains on the corridor had transported approximately six million TEUs, or twenty-foot equivalent units, across more than 1,100 categories of goods.
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