Seatrade Maritime is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Gold Star Line to expand into India, Middle East, Africa with more services planned

bda6ba3e2659b10d16fe3c6b9dab7483
Niche carrier Gold Star Line (GSL) is joining the tough Intra-Asia fray and is set to expand into India, the Middle East and Africa with the introduction of a number of new services this year.

The carrier said that its new GCX service, which was launched late last year, is the first phase in its expansion into the South Asia and Middle East markets and has seen strong demand. The service connects China with ports in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Middle East and Southeast Asia.

GSL is looking to strengthen their Intra-Asia offering and extend into the Middle East and Africa. “We see many opportunities in the Intra-Asia sector and the new GCX service was introduced to meet growing demand from our customers for services linking China with South Asia and the Middle East,” said GSL md Danny Hoffmann. 

Hoffmann added that China’s Belt and Road initiative had also had a positive impact on trade with South Asian countries.

“We have seen a significant increase in demand to Indian Sub-Continent areas which is a direct result of investment by Chinese, Korean and Japanese companies,” he noted.

The GCX service, which operates with six vessels of 6,500 teu on a weekly basis calling at Xingang - Qingdao - Shanghai - Ningbo - Shekou - Da Chan Bay - Port Kelang - Colombo -Karachi - Jebel Ali - Colombo - Port Kelang - Singapore – Xingang, has improved GSL’s network significantly in the region helping to meet many customer requirements.

GSL aims to expand its services within the intra-Asia segment and develop a relationship with the vast growing continent of Africa.