Cosco Debuts Beibu Gulf and Middle East Car Carrier Service

Why It Matters

The new corridor gives Chinese auto and machinery exporters a faster, cheaper gateway to the Middle East, strengthening trade ties and supporting China’s strategic maritime expansion. It also fills a logistical gap in the Maritime New Silk Road, enhancing supply‑chain resilience for Belt and Road partners.

Key Takeaways

• Monthly ro‑ro liner connects Beibu Gulf to UAE, Saudi Arabia
• Cuts transit time for Guangxi auto exporters
• Carries ~2,000 vehicles per voyage on Cosco Shengshi
• Supports China's Western Land‑Sea Corridor Belt and Road
• Enhances direct logistics corridor to Persian Gulf ports

Pulse Analysis

China’s push to deepen maritime links under the Belt and Road has long emphasized the need for efficient, high‑capacity routes that bypass congested traditional lanes. By anchoring a dedicated ro‑ro service in the Beibu Gulf, Cosco taps into the burgeoning auto production hub of Guangxi, offering manufacturers a direct sea‑borne alternative to overland routes that are often slower and more costly. This strategic positioning not only shortens the supply chain but also signals Beijing’s commitment to integrating its southwestern economies into global trade networks.

The Cosco Shengshi, designed for roll‑on/roll‑off operations, will shuttle approximately 2,000 vehicles each trip, stopping at key Gulf ports such as Jebel Ali in the UAE and Dammam in Saudi Arabia. Early estimates suggest transit times could drop by up to 30 percent compared with existing routes, translating into tangible cost savings for exporters of cars, construction equipment, and other high‑value goods. The monthly frequency ensures a reliable cadence, allowing shippers to plan inventory more predictably and reduce reliance on spot charter markets that often experience price volatility.

Beyond immediate commercial benefits, the service reinforces China’s Western Land‑Sea Corridor, a core component of its regional development strategy. By creating a stable maritime conduit to the Persian Gulf, Cosco helps diversify trade pathways, mitigating geopolitical risks associated with over‑reliance on the South China Sea. The initiative also positions Chinese carriers to capture a larger share of the fast‑growing Middle Eastern automotive market, while offering Belt and Road partner nations a more dependable logistics backbone for their own export ambitions.

Cosco debuts Beibu Gulf and Middle East car carrier service

Katherine Si, China Correspondent · February 10, 2026

Credit: Cosco Shipping

Cosco Shipping Car Carriers debuts a ro‑ro service departing from Southwest China to the Middle East.

The unit of Cosco Shipping Specialized Carriers has launched the first monthly ro‑ro liner service linking Beibu Gulf Port with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

This new service aims to significantly reduce both export transit time and logistics expenses for automobile manufacturers based in Guangxi and southwestern China. It also establishes a more efficient, stable, and convenient Maritime New Silk Road, facilitating the export of locally produced automobiles and engineering machinery.

The car carrier Cosco Shengshi is set to carry around 2,000 commercial vehicles, with scheduled port calls at Qinzhou, Nansha, Jebel Ali, and Dammam. This route will provide efficient connectivity to major ports in the Persian Gulf, creating a direct and integrated logistics corridor linking China’s southwestern region with markets across the Middle East.

The route marks a strategic initiative by Cosco Shipping Car Carriers to fully align with the national Western Land‑Sea Corridor plan, proactively establish export pathways in the southwest, and contribute to the high‑quality co‑development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

“This initiative strengthens the maritime logistics corridor linking China's southwestern region with the Middle East, fills gaps in regional route networks, and ensures stable container shipping services for exporting domestic automobiles, construction machinery, and other goods to markets in the Middle East and Belt and Road partner countries,” stated Cosco Shipping Car Carriers.