A new container shipping route from the Port of Muara to Beibu Gulf Port in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region began operating on July 8.

It's expected to quickly become a new "trade artery" for areas in West China, alongside the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the East ASEAN Growth Area.

This route is being operated by Malaysia's Harbour-Link Line and will run from the Port of Muara, to Bintulu, Malaysia, Qinzhou and Hong Kong before returning to the Port of Muara.

The current shipping schedule is once a month and the future frequency will be set at once every two weeks depending on the prevailing operating situation.

The route mainly transports goods such as Brunei's prawn crackers, melons and seafood while helping to attract goods from the East ASEAN Growth Area to China in transit in Brunei.

Cargo transported from Qinzhou Port to Brunei on the route will be agricultural products such as fruit and vegetables, as well as trade goods from southwest China.

The Port of Muara is Brunei's only international deep-water port on the country's main international trading route. Before the opening of the new route, it took 10 days to one month for goods to travel from China to Brunei, as well as 2 to 3 weeks or even longer for goods to travel from Brunei to China.

In the wake of its start-up, cargo from Beibu Gulf Port to Port of Muara only takes five days and seven days from Muara to Beibu Gulf Port, reducing transportation costs by an estimated 30 percent.

A cargo ship on the new container shipping route from the Port of Muara to Beibu Gulf Port. [Photo provided to guangxi.chinadaily.com.cn/ftz]