DHL has commenced a new direct, less-than-container load (LCL) service from Seattle to Singapore that will serve as a gateway to 16 destinations in South Asia.
    The new weekly LCL service will handle freight moving from Portland and Seattle and can reduce the overall transit time between the US and Singapore by 12 to 14 days compared to current service transit times, a DHL statement said.
    Danmar Lines, DHL Global Forwarding's in-house carrier, operates the LCL service. With cargo shipped directly from Seattle to Singapore, customers can expect their shipments to arrive in Singapore within 25 days.
    Sam Ang, CEO, south east Asia, DHL Global Forwarding, said: "South east Asia is home to a population of more than half a billion people that is growing steadily at 1.4 per cent annually. As MNCs and SMEs alike are turning to ocean freight to enjoy greater cost efficiencies, DHL's latest LCL service effectively enhances US businesses' access to this new, fast-growing market with increasing demands for imports from around the world, especially the United States."
    The new LCL service also eliminates rehandling of cargo in Los Angeles by moving goods directly from the Port of Seattle. DHL additionally offers end-to-end supply chain management, including pick-up at origin, consolidation and deconsolidation, delivery at destination, customs clearance and DHL track and trace.
    DHL added it handles two million cubic metres of LCL freight annually via 45,000 point-pairs.

Source: Shipping Gazette