COSCO SHIPPING Holdings is strengthening its Asia-Pacific network through coordinated service development by COSCO SHIPPING Lines and OOCL, combining new regional connections with inland transport links, hub connectivity and digital services.

The group’s recent initiatives span South China, Hainan, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Together, they aim to give shippers more routing options and stronger connections between production centres, sourcing markets and distribution networks.

The scale of the business underlines the region’s importance. According to COSCO SHIPPING Holdings’ 2026 interim report, its intra-Asia routes, including Australia, carried approximately 4.74 million TEU in the first half of the year, up 5.34% year on year. That represented roughly one-third of the group’s total container volumes.

Dual Brands Broaden Regional Coverage

Through COSCO SHIPPING Lines and OOCL, the group is developing a more extensive regional service network linking South China and Hainan with markets including Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India and Pakistan.

A key feature of this approach is the development of services tailored to specific trade flows.

On 21 September, OOCL announced its new China–Cambodia–Thailand service, CCT4, with a planned launch on 23 October 2026. The rotation will be:

Nansha – Shekou – Sihanoukville – Songkhla – Nansha.

By connecting two South China gateways with Sihanoukville in Cambodia and Songkhla in Thailand, CCT4 will broaden direct service options across these markets. For relevant cargo flows, direct connections can reduce dependence on transshipment arrangements and give customers greater flexibility when planning shipments.

The complementary networks and customer relationships of the two brands provide a foundation for this expansion, allowing the group to address a wider range of cargo requirements and regional trading patterns.

Linking South China, Hainan and Thailand

Another focus is the service loop connecting Nansha, Laem Chabang and Yangpu.

According to the group’s regional update, COSCO SHIPPING Lines has introduced a Nansha–Laem Chabang–Yangpu–Nansha service, with an advertised five-day transit from Nansha to Laem Chabang.

OOCL has also announced its South China–Laem Chabang service, CHL7, with the same port rotation and a scheduled start date of 29 September 2026.

The port combination brings together distinct commercial functions. Nansha serves South China’s manufacturing and export cargo base; Yangpu supports Hainan Free Trade Port and transshipment activity; and Laem Chabang provides access to the Thai market.

For manufacturers, a clearly defined transit offering can help align production schedules with delivery commitments. For cross-border e-commerce businesses, additional service options can support replenishment planning. For companies operating through Hainan, stronger regional connections create more choices for sourcing, distribution and exports.

Building Connections Between Southeast Asia and India

The group’s expansion also supports trade between Asian markets, including cargo moving between Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

OOCL’s Southeast Asia–Indian Subcontinent Service 2, SIS2, commenced on 4 June 2026 with the following rotation:

Qinzhou – Yangpu – Haiphong – Singapore – Mundra – Singapore – Hong Kong – Qinzhou.

The service provides a direct connection between Haiphong and India’s west coast while strengthening links among China, Vietnam and Singapore.

Its network brings together the Beibu Gulf, Hainan, northern Vietnam, Singapore and western India. This combination is relevant to businesses managing procurement, production and sales across several Asian markets, where raw materials, intermediate goods and finished products may follow different transport routes.

By expanding these connections, COSCO SHIPPING Holdings is increasing its capacity to serve regional supply chains and trade between markets beyond China.

Connecting Inland Cargo Through Qinzhou

The group’s regional network also reaches into China’s inland cargo markets through Qinzhou, a gateway on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

According to the company’s latest regional disclosure, COSCO SHIPPING Holdings has 17 services at Qinzhou: eight international services and nine domestic services.

The international network connects with markets including Southeast Asia, India and Pakistan, while domestic services link Qinzhou with coastal locations such as Tianjin, Ningbo, Taicang, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang and Haikou.

Combined with rail and road transport, these maritime connections extend the reach of regional services into central and western China. For manufacturers operating across inland China and Southeast Asia, the ability to coordinate factory dispatch, inland transport, port handling and onward delivery is an important part of managing shipment schedules.

The network also supports cargo moving in both directions, connecting Chinese manufactured exports with overseas markets and providing maritime links for Southeast Asian agricultural products entering China.

Integrating Regional and Global Networks

Nansha, Yangpu, Qinzhou and Singapore perform different roles within the group’s wider network. Some concentrate manufacturing and export cargo; others connect inland corridors or support regional distribution and international transshipment.

Coordinating these gateways allows services to accommodate cargo with different destinations, volumes and delivery requirements.

Direct connections can improve transport efficiency on suitable trade lanes, while hub services allow smaller or more dispersed cargo flows to connect with a broader range of destinations.

For shippers, the practical benefit is a wider choice of transport arrangements. A network with multiple gateways and routing options can also provide more scope to reorganise shipments when operating conditions change.

This gives regional service development a role in strengthening the flexibility of the group’s wider supply chain offering.

Digital Services Support Supply Chain Coordination

Alongside its physical network, COSCO SHIPPING Holdings is expanding digital applications across its regional operations.

According to the group, its artificial intelligence applications cover 13 countries, with deployments in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

Its 2026 interim report also describes an internally developed AI supply chain assistant that supports customer interactions across quotation, order placement and settlement processes.

For businesses managing cross-border shipments, the quality and availability of information matter alongside vessel capacity and sailing schedules. Customers need to understand shipment progress, coordinate connecting transport and manage the administrative steps associated with cargo movement.

Digital tools can help simplify these interactions and reduce the coordination required across different stages of a shipment.

The combination of regional services, inland connections, hub operations and digital tools is intended to support supply chains spanning multiple Asian markets.

For international shippers, the value lies in more service choices, better connections between regional gateways and greater flexibility in organising cargo flows. As COSCO SHIPPING Lines and OOCL continue to develop their complementary networks, COSCO SHIPPING Holdings is strengthening its role in the infrastructure supporting intra-Asian trade.