DHL Global Forwarding has launched direct export services from central eastern Europe to Asia via the port of Koper in Slovenia.

    This links Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia directly with the Asian business centres of Hong Kong, Keelung, Busan, Shanghai and Singapore.

    "Trade between North Asia and Eastern Europe has grown rapidly over the last decade at an average rate of 32 per cent growth per year. China's imports from central and east European countries grew even faster, registering an average annual rate of 38.7 per cent. These figures substantiate a need for the introduction of these new trade routes to serve the North Asian markets more efficiently," said Kelvin Leung, CEO, North Asia Pacific.

    Containers are first opened in Asia before deconsolidation and delivery to final destinations. Customers can trace their LCL shipments by a web-based freight tracking system providing continuous information about the cargo's condition.

    In addition to meeting increased demand for shorter transit times to fast-growing regions in Asia, the new LCL service offers a 30 per cent more CO2 efficient option for customers, compared with the previous routes that ran via the North European ports," Marc Meier, senior vice president, ocean freight and head of global LCL, said.

(source:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?classname=News)