Kerry Logistics has launched a weekly scheduled less than container load (LCL) rail freight service between Duisburg, Germany and Shanghai via the Yiwu terminal in the Yangtze River Delta, China, using its own consolidation containers.

Last week, fellow freight forwarder CEVA Logistics also launched a new rail service linking Shilong in southern China’s Guangdong province to Hamburg in Germany and these rail routes are seen as a threat to air cargo on the China to Europe trade lane.

This additional rail service option for east and westbound shipments enhances Kerry Logistics’ existing full container load (FCL) and LCL services, offering a transit time of 16 days for westbound cargo, and 21 days eastbound.

Kerry Logistics says shipments have already been successfully moved using the new service, which offers weekly departures on Friday eastbound and Wednesday westbound.

The rail freight solution is part of Kerry Logistics’ end-to-end freight management service and managing director of Europe, Thomas Blank, says: “Our proven track record and unparalleled service network in Asia, together with our local expertise throughout Europe, promise that we can now offer our customers a flexible, cost-effective solution on this route for cargoes from industrial freight, down to smaller e-commerce commodities.

“Acting as the consolidator ourselves allows us to offer shorter lead times, moving each shipment faster than if we had to wait for a full container from each customer, who can monitor their cargo along the route via online track and trace.

“We can be more reactive to our customers’ rapidly evolving needs.”