ART Logistics has launched a multimodal freight service connecting Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand with Central Asia.
Cargo is moved by sea from the regional ports of Jakarta, Port Kelang, Bangkok, Haiphong, Keelung and Singapore. Shipments are then routed by rail through the China corridor, from Lianyungang port in north-eastern China to the Kazakhstan border crossings of Dostyk and then on to Almaty, the country’s major commercial centre. ART Logistics also provides the same service from the border to other Central Asian countries including Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan.
“The route from China to Central Asia has been underused in the past as you need to have expertise in managing rail operations across Central Asia and ART Logistics has its own team of professionals who ensure all documentation is in order at China-Kazakhstan border. This ensures a seamless transit for all shipments,” said Tatiana Serova, Commercial Director of ART Logistics.
ART Logistics engages experienced freight teams who all speak Chinese, Russian and Kazakh, to guarantee effective communications with Customs officials.
ART Logistics manages the whole process door-to-door and uses its own private pool of containers, providing a cost effective and flexible service to a wide range of cities in across Central Asia.
“Not every shipping line has container drop-off points in Central Asia, but ART Logistics has its own box fleet and an extensive network of drop-off locations within the region, as well as the on-the-ground transportation solutions,” said Serova.
ART Logistics also utilises its own container fleet for Eastbound back loadings from Central Asia to China, in order to make the equipment turn-around more cost effective. This also means that empty containers are available in the region for South East Asia-based shippers.
Transit times from South East Asia to major trade centres such as Almaty in Kazakhstan are about 36 days if documentation is prepared before dispatch.
Due to the presence of tri-lingual ART Logistics personnel based at border crossings and bottlenecks there is a higher predictability of any potential delays or changes in routing.
The new product is an addition to its long standing Europe to Central Asia rail FCL service, where ART Logistics is one of the top private container operators. Many
leading global brand named freight forwarders utilize ART Logistics Europe-Central Asia service.
Shipments to Central Asia comprise general cargo including a wide range of consumer goods, dried and canned foods, as well as project shipments for the oil & gas industry.