DHL enhances Turkey-China route

DHL has launched two new Less than Container Load (LCL) services connecting Turkey and China. Danmar Lines, DHL Global Forwarding’s in-house carrier, will operate the service routes between Shanghai and Izmir, and Ningbo and Istanbul.

With cargo shipped directly from China to Turkey instead of being routed via Hong Kong, customers can now expect their shipments to arrive in Izmir and Istanbul within 25 days and 27 days respectively, with time savings of up to 5 days.

Kelvin Leung, CEO, North Asia Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding, said, “The two new direct LCL services, boosted by our existing direct LCL services between China and Turkey, offer our customers greater flexibility and cost-efficient solutions in these growing markets. Istanbul is one of the most important industrial and economic cities and the biggest port in Turkey, with Izmir in second spot. We have recorded consistent growth in the China-Turkey trade lane and our robust LCL network will spur continued growth in both regions.”

According to the figures from Ministry of Commerce of China, China-Turkey trade volume in 2000 was $1bn, and by the end of 2008, this figure had grown twelve-fold to reach $12.57bn.

For the first five months of 2010, trade between China and Turkey totaled $7.06bn, up 46.3% year on year.

Exports from China to Turkey are valued at $6.17bn for the same period, up 39.5% year on year. Indeed, China has become the 16th biggest export market and 2nd biggest import source for Turkey].

Steve Huang, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding, China, said, “Today’s launch of our new direct LCL service is part of DHL’s on-going plans to expand our self-operated, weekly guaranteed, LCL services in China. With the close proximity from both Shanghai and Ningbo port to the Yangtze River Delta Area, the launch of the new direct LCL services from Shanghai to Izmir and Ningbo to Istanbul offers customer more convenience and benefits, especially the small and medium enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta Area.”