New Taicang–Jeddah Shipping Service to Cut Transit Times by Up to Three Weeks
Shipping Arabia, October 18, 2026 – A new direct shipping service has been launched between Taicang Port in China’s eastern Jiangsu province and Jeddah Islamic Port in Saudi Arabia, with the operator expecting to reduce cargo transit times by two to three weeks. The Taicang–Jeddah shipping service eliminates intermediate transshipment operations, offering a more direct maritime connection between eastern China and the Middle East.
The new route was inaugurated with the departure of a cargo vessel carrying approximately 1,000 containers from Taicang Port to Jeddah. Operated by Hai Son Shipping, the service aims to improve transportation efficiency, provide more reliable sailing schedules and reduce logistics costs for cargo moving between China and Saudi Arabia.
Direct Taicang–Jeddah Shipping Service Targets Faster Cargo Deliveries
The introduction of the new service establishes a direct maritime connection between Taicang Port, located in Jiangsu province, and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea gateway at Jeddah.
Xu Dapeng, chairman of Hai Son Shipping, said the route could shorten cargo transportation times by two to three weeks by eliminating the need for container transshipment at intermediate ports.
According to Xu, the direct connection also offers more predictable sailing schedules, helping improve transportation efficiency and reduce logistics costs for customers.
The company intends to monitor market demand as the service develops. Based on future cargo requirements, Hai Son Shipping will consider increasing sailing frequency, optimizing available vessel capacity and continuously improving its integrated logistics services.
The new Taicang–Jeddah shipping service responds to growing demand among international trading companies for direct and efficient maritime logistics connections between the two countries.
Expanding China–Saudi Arabia Trade Drives Demand for Maritime Connectivity
The launch comes amid continued growth in economic and commercial relations between China and Saudi Arabia.
Trade between the two countries covers a wide range of energy resources, industrial materials, machinery and manufactured products, creating demand for maritime transportation services.
China’s imports from Saudi Arabia include crude oil, petrochemical products and minerals. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia continues to generate demand for Chinese engineering machinery, steel structural components, industrial electrical equipment and photovoltaic products.
Other products moving within the bilateral trading relationship include household electrical appliances and light industrial goods manufactured in China.
As commercial exchanges expand, trading companies are increasingly seeking efficient direct shipping routes that can improve cargo transportation and reduce dependence on intermediate logistics hubs.
The new direct service between Taicang and Jeddah is intended to address these requirements by providing an additional maritime transportation option between the two markets.
Bilateral Trade Reached $108.2 Billion in 2025
Official figures published by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs show that bilateral trade between China and Saudi Arabia reached approximately $108.2 billion in 2025.
During the first quarter of 2026, trade between the two countries amounted to approximately $24.15 billion, reflecting the substantial volume of commercial exchanges between the two economies.
Energy trade remains an important component of the relationship. China imported approximately 80.76 million tonnes of crude oil from Saudi Arabia during 2025.
In the first quarter of 2026, Chinese imports of Saudi crude oil reached approximately 17.9 million tonnes.
Against this backdrop of substantial bilateral trade, the new Taicang–Jeddah shipping service provides another direct connection between China’s manufacturing and export markets and Saudi Arabia’s maritime gateways.
By reducing the need for intermediate transshipment and offering more predictable sailing schedules, Hai Son Shipping aims to improve freight transportation efficiency while responding to demand for stronger maritime logistics links between China and Saudi Arabia.
Source: Al Mal