DHL launches India-US LCL service

DHL has announced today the launch of its new direct Less than Container Load (LCL) service from Nhava Sheva, India, to Los Angeles, USA. Operated by Danmar Lines, DHL’s in-house carrier, the new service will facilitate trade between India and the USA and offers its customers  services with a reduced transit time of 26 days between the two ports.

Container traffic at major ports in India surged 21.5% in April compared with a year earlier, driven by a strong turnaround in the country’s foreign trade. Nhava Sheva is the largest port in India and handles close to 60% of the total containerised cargo in India. Ranked among the top 30 ports in the world, Nhava Sheva alone handled over 4m TEUs in 2007-2008.

“The US is India’s 2nd largest export partner and 3rd largest import partner. The launch of this direct LCL route connecting Nhava Sheva to Los Angeles will further facilitate foreign trade between the two countries and support the growing needs of small and medium enterprises. This service will enhance the strong global connectivity offered by DHL’s extensive LCL network and will help customers expand and strengthen their supply chain in the India-USA trade lane,” said Amadou Diallo, CEO, South Asia Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding.

Christoph Remund, CEO, DHL Lemuir Logistics Pvt, added: “The launch of DHL’s new LCL service from Nhava Sheva to Los Angeles is strategically planned in time to meet the growth of foreign trade amidst the global economic recovery. DHL dedicates substantial resources to continue developing and maintaining highly effective services that include traditional LCL services and multi-vendor buyers’ consolidations for shipments sourced from single and multiple countries.”