Jun. 16 – South Korean shipping company, Hanjin Shipping (HJS), will launch a direct service between Vietnam and the United States on June 21; the third major container line to do so.
The new service is called the South East & Japan Express (SJX) and will focus on the Vietnamese and South East Asian markets trading with the United States’ West Coast.
HJS will deploy six 4,000 TEU class ships; calling Port Kelang – Singapore – Hong Kong – Yantian – Osaka – Tokyo – Long Beach – Oakland – Tokyo- Port Kelang. Starting from July 7th, Ho Chi Minh will replace Hong Kong in the route.
The service is possible because of the new terminal in Cai-Mep, Ho Chi Minh, which has a deep water port close to the sea and can receive huge vessels.
The service is also aimed at meeting growing demand by U.S. importers for direct service from Vietnam, according to William Rooney, Hanjin Shipping’s managing director for North and South America told The Journal of Commerce Online.
Hanjin in a statement that it will be adding SJX calls at Ho Chi Minh City to the current Haiphong Express Service (HES) calling Haiphong, the company will be able to provide its customers with stable service to the economic centers of Vietnam.
