First Voyage of “China-Europe Arctic Express” Sets Sail from Nansha Port Area, Launching South China’s Arctic Ocean-to-Europe Shipping Route

On August 19, Nansha Port Area of Guangzhou Port welcomed the maiden voyage of the CAX service "China-Europe Arctic Express" operated by HJ Shipping. The service is a seasonal weekly premium express service prioritized by HJ Shipping in 2026. This maiden voyage marks the official launch of South China's shipping route to Europe via the Arctic Ocean, providing fresh impetus for the high-quality development of foreign trade in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

First Voyage of "China-Europe Arctic Express" at Nansha Port Area

Transit Time from Nansha Port to Felixstowe, UK Reduced to Just 28 Days

Centered on the Arctic Northeast Passage, the CAX route links key economic and trade hinterlands in South and East China with European markets. As the first port of departure in China for export cargo on this route, Nansha Port Area undertakes the critical task of consolidating export cargo from South China. Goods shipped from Nansha Port take only 28 days to reach Felixstowe Port in the United Kingdom, reducing transit time by 14 days compared with routes via the Cape of Good Hope. It effectively optimizes South China's export supply chain system and provides foreign-trade enterprises in the Pearl River Delta with a stable and fast direct Asia-Europe logistics option.

Nansha Port Establishes an Arctic Route Node and Becomes a Key Pivot of the "Ice Silk Road"

The launch of the CAX route enables direct connectivity between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Arctic shipping route, establishing Nansha Port Area as a vital South-China pivot of the "Ice Silk Road". Cargo departing from Nansha travels across the Arctic Circle to major European ports, further extending its reach to more than ten countries across Northern and Eastern Europe and opening a brand-new outbound trade corridor for South China exports. Leveraging the strengths of this strategic passage, the region's pattern of opening up will continue to expand, and the Greater Bay Area will further enhance its position as a hub in Asia-Europe trade.

Upholding its positioning as the core hub port of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Nansha Port Area will keep upgrading its comprehensive port service capacity, support Greater Bay Area enterprises in deeper integration into global industrial and supply chains, and demonstrate the port's commitment to supporting national maritime strategies.