Hainan's 72 shipping lines deliver goods across the globe

A direct shipping route between Indonesia and China's Hainan province is reducing delivery times and minimizing spoilage for coconut imports, offering a significant boost to the local industry.

The route, linking Indonesia's Palu Port to Hainan's Yangpu Port, has cut transit time from 40 days to just seven, according to Wan Xindong, marketing director at Hainan Dahaomai Food Company, which has been in the coconut processing industry for over a decade. Loss rates have dropped from 8 percent to under 3 percent, while freshness has improved by 30 percent compared to traditional shipping lanes.

Since its trial launch in November last year, demand has surged, with Hainan-based processors securing cargo space. By June, the route had transported over 50,000 tons of coconuts.

Growing international trade is driving Hainan to expand its maritime routes. Leveraging its position on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, the province is building a logistics network that serves both domestic and international markets, with 72 stable container routes currently in operation.

Domestically, Hainan has opened 30 routes to strengthen ties with eastern and northern China, including high-frequency feeder services to the Beibu Gulf and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. A new "parallel port" logistics system among Hainan's Yangpu Port, Shenzhen's Shekou Port and Guangdong's Zhanjiang Port has further streamlined trade.

Internationally, Hainan is capitalizing on its central role in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, prioritizing routes to ASEAN and South Asia. New direct links to Abu Dhabi, the US, and India have filled key gaps, accelerating global distribution for Hainan-made goods.

The benefits are tangible. Hainan Gold Hongye Paper Co, a major exporter, uses the Yangpu-Abu Dhabi route to ship goods to the Middle East, cutting voyage time in half and saving over 200,000 yuan (about $27,500) per trip.

Over 80 percent of international trade is conducted through maritime transport, which serves as the primary artery of Hainan's foreign trade industry. In 2024, the island province's trade surged 20 percent year-on-year to 277.65 billion yuan, with exports exceeding 100 billion yuan for the first time - a 43.5 percent jump.

Huang Peng, vice-director of Hainan's transport department, said the province will further optimize shipping and logistics systems to strengthen its role as a trade hub. The goal, he said, is to "boost high-quality development" of the Hainan Free Trade Port.