Singapore's APL is to launch a new weekly India East Coast Express (IEX) service which directly connects the North Asia markets of Korea and China to Chennai, India.

"The new IEX service facilitates our customers' growing business need for additional and more competitive shipping options. Through the IEX service, shippers will benefit from fast and reliable transit between the North, Southeast and South Asia markets.

"Additionally, the strategic port calls of the IEX service at the key transshipment hubs of Singapore and Port Klang will open shippers' access to APL's wider service network for global connectivity," said Tonnie Lim, APL head of Intra-AsiaTrade.

The shipping line said in a statement that the service has been designed with competitive transit times and the new service offers a comprehensive coverage of the China market with three port calls in Qingdao, Shanghai and Shekou. The service is also primed for direct cargo shipments from Singapore and Malaysia to Manila, Philippines.

The IEX service will call the ports of Busan, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shekou, Singapore, Port Klang (West), Manila and Chennai. Its first sailing will commence from Busan on December 15 2016.

Source：Shipping Online.cn