Matson expands its service into China

Matson launched its expanded China – Long Beach Express service this week, with the first departures from Hong Kong and Yantian and a new second weekly call at Shanghai.

The new weekly service allows Matson to extend its geographic reach to the South China region, including Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta.

With the second string of vessels, Matson will now offer twice weekly service from Shanghai and weekly service from Hong Kong, Yantian, Xiamen and Ningbo to Long Beach. The expanded service also features a new direct westbound service to China that links Southern California and the U.S. interior to Hong Kong, Shanghai and the Pearl River Delta.

“Our smaller vessels allow faster loading and unloading of cargo,” said Dave Hoppes, senior vice president, ocean services.

He also noted in a statement that Matson’s fixed day arrivals and next day cargo availability is extended to all shippers—not just for “a select few.”

This news may also be welcomed by U.S. West Coast exporters, who are currently scrambling to find space for their goods on the Transpacific westbound lane.

According to Michael Gargaro, senior vice president for ocean freight at cargo consolidator Agility Logistics, carriers are not moving fast enough to accommodate a surge in outbound freight this autumn.
“Capacity shortfalls will continue into 2011,” he said in an interview.

He added that this trend would continue as long as carriers deploy capacity based on higher-valued eastbound vessel strings.