BASEL: May 06, 2019. Panalpina has launched a weekly Less than Container Load (LCL) service from Shanghai to Duesseldorf. This is the third line in Panalpina’s rail cargo portfolio, alongside Shanghai-Warsaw, which started in 2016, and Shenzhen-Warsaw, which followed in 2017.

The first two 40-foot high containers were consolidated in Shanghai in mid-March and travelled 9,000 kms. in 18 days via Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland. Upon reachingDuisburg the goods were transferred to a deconsolidation point in Dusseldorf and then distributed to the customer.

The bulk of rail shipments from Asia to Europe are for automotive, consumer and retail, fashion, hi-tech, manufacturing and telecom industries. Most of the products are destined for Germany, the largest market, but deliveries also go to Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, the UK, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

Panalpina’s Shanghai-Duesseldorf service fills two 40-foot containers while the Shanghai-Warsaw operations handles six to seven 40-foot boxes a week, while the Shenzhen-Warsaw line handles one to two.

“The high-speed service direct from Shanghai to Dusseldorf is an unbeatable way to enable quick, end-to-end, door-to-door deliveries for customers,” said Slawomir Krzyskow, Panalpina’s regional overland manager, rail services Europe.

“As Panalpina manages and controls all operations on both ends, cargo is always safe, starting with the pick-up from almost any place in China and consolidation in Shanghai, and right through via rail to Dusseldorf for deconsolidation and last-mile delivery across Europe. Panalpina built its rail
services with trusted partners who are able to guarantee reliable service and high punctuality,” he added.