The New Western Land-Sea Corridor Expands Routes to the Middle East

As trade ties between China and the Middle East keep growing, the shipping network of the Western Land-Sea Trade Corridor continues to expand. The stable direct ro-ro service linking Qinzhou Port in Guangxi Beibu Gulf and Duqm Port in Oman provides Southwest China exporters, especially manufacturers of chemicals and new-energy equipment, with a reliable outbound logistics option. Supported by integrated rail and sea connections, this route connects inland factories directly to the key industrial hub in the Middle East and enriches supply chain arrangements.

Note: The image is sourced from CCTV News

Recently, the vessel Chang Rong Kou departed from Qinzhou Port carrying 2,727 vehicles on a single voyage, setting a new record for the port for ro-ro vehicle exports. This is a non-transshipment direct service with around 15 days of sea transit. Compared with traditional routing via South China hub ports with transshipment arrangements, it reduces waiting time caused by multiple port calls and vessel transfers, delivering better schedule reliability.

The biggest highlight of this route lies in its mature rail-sea intermodal system. Cargo originating from inland cities including Chongqing, Sichuan and Guizhou can be shipped via dedicated block trains to Qinzhou Port. One-stop operations cover rail haulage, cargo consolidation, customs inspection and loading onto ocean vessels. Intermediate handling, repeated short-distance trucking and extra warehousing are minimized. It shortens total lead time and lowers risks of cargo damage or delays during repeated loading and unloading, well suited for industrial goods requiring stable transit.

Duqm Port is a flagship coastal industrial hub of Oman. It hosts well-built chemical zones, dedicated storage yards and independent terminals for dangerous goods. We have been monitoring this Middle East port for a long time. Unlike some ports in the region, Duqm maintains relatively open policies for dangerous goods and has complete infrastructure to receive and store chemicals and lithium batteries.

While the route currently mainly handles finished vehicles and construction machinery, the port’s infrastructure and clearance system are also capable of moving chemical products, lithium batteries and complete industrial equipment. For chemical manufacturers in Southwest China, conventional logistics often requires long-distance trucking to ports in the Pearl River Delta, which brings higher cost and road uncertainties. Now goods can be consolidated locally by rail to Qinzhou and shipped directly to Duqm for further distribution across Gulf countries.

Supply chain resilience is a top priority for chemical exporters. Geopolitical shifts, port congestion and tight vessel space may create uncertainties if shipments rely on only one route. Diversifying loading ports and shipping lanes is an effective way to spread risks. When planning orders to the Middle East, shippers may compare this Qinzhou-Duqm direct service with traditional South China port options, balancing cargo type, delivery schedule and logistics budget. For dangerous goods, apart from freight rate and transit time, it is critical to verify port acceptance lists, documentation rules and packaging compliance standards in advance.

It is worth noting that dangerous goods regulations across Middle Eastern ports change frequently. Acceptance terms vary by UN number and packaging type. Duqm Port also updates its requirements following local maritime and customs authority notices. For high-risk cargo such as chemicals and lithium batteries, confirm the latest acceptance rules ahead of booking and prepare complete IMDG declarations and DG packaging certificates to avoid cargo detention and demurrage at destination.

The continuous expansion of the Western Land-Sea Corridor marks China’s opening strategy toward the west and south. Moving forward, we will keep tracking vessel schedules and space availability of the Qinzhou-Duqm service, as well as regulatory updates for dangerous goods at Oman and neighbouring Middle East ports. We aim to deliver timely and accurate logistics insights for chemical and new-energy exporters and support their steady expansion into Middle Eastern markets.

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