China Launches Direct Shipping Line with Saudi Jeddah Port
China has announced the launch of a direct shipping line between the Port of Taicang in eastern China's Jiangsu province and the Middle East, starting with the Saudi port of Jeddah.
Xu Daopeng, chairman of the board of the company operating the shipping line, said the new route would save two to three weeks in shipping time, as it eliminates the need for transport between intermediate ports and has more precise sailing schedules, which helps increase transport efficiency and reduce logistics costs.
Xu noted that the company will monitor market demand, increase the number of trips when needed, improve capacity, and continuously upgrade comprehensive logistics services.
Official data published on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed that the value of bilateral trade between China and Saudi Arabia reached about $108.2 billion in 2025. In the first quarter of the current year, the trade value between the two countries amounted to $24.15 billion.
In 2025, China imported about 80.76 million tons of crude oil from Saudi Arabia, and the volume of China's crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia reached 17.9 million tons in the first quarter of the current year.
Source: Xinhua + Open sources
