28 
American Journal of Transportation
American Journal of Transportation  
ajot.com
MORE THAN
30% FASTER
INLAND TRANSIT
LOWER COST. GREATER CONTROL.
South China’s only port with direct on-dock rail connectivity.
COST
Optimize inland moves with rail and barge
SPEED
Shorten drayage and improve cut-off compliance
RESILIENCE
Diversify modes and reduce congestion exposure
*Compared with traditional trucking or feeder routing.
DISCOVER THE NANSHA ADVANTAGE
www.portofnansha.com
Port of Nansha delivers cost, speed 
and resilience advantages for BCOs
The Port of Nansha is emerging as a strategic 
gateway of choice for Beneficial Cargo Owners 
(BCOs) seeking to optimize cost, improve tran-
sit times, and strengthen supply chain resilience 
across South China export flows.
As global sourcing strategies evolve and 
pressure mounts on cost control and reliability, 
Nansha’s integrated intermodal infrastructure is 
providing BCOs with a measurable competitive 
advantage—particularly for cargo originating in 
the western Pearl River Delta and inland China.
End-to-End Efficiency from Factory to 
Vessel
Nansha’s direct on-dock rail capability—
unique in South China—enables seamless move-
ment of cargo from inland production hubs to vessel 
loading without intermediate handling. For BCOs, 
this translates into fewer touchpoints, reduced risk 
of cargo damage, and improved schedule integrity.
Combined with an extensive inland rail net-
work linking key manufacturing regions such as 
Chongqing, Wuhan, and Chengdu, Nansha allows 
cargo owners to bypass congested trucking corri-
dors and streamline origin operations.
Lower Inland Costs and Improved Transit 
Performance
BCOs leveraging Nansha’s intermodal net-
work are realizing:
• Double-digit reductions in inland transportation 
costs through rail and barge optimization
• Transit time improvements of over 30% com-
pared to traditional trucking or feeder routing
• Reduced detention, demurrage, and buffer inventory 
requirements due to more predictable cargo flows
• An extensive barge feeder system across the Pearl 
River further supports efficient consolidation strat-
egies, enabling BCOs to move high-volume cargo 
at lower cost with simplified customs processing.
Stronger Control Over Supply Chain Risk
For cargo owners managing high-volume, 
time-sensitive supply chains, Nansha offers critical 
diversification away from heavily congested South 
China gateways. By reducing reliance on trucking 
and providing multiple modal options, the port 
enhances continuity and mitigates disruption risk.
This flexibility is particularly valuable for:
• Retail and e-commerce replenishment cycles
• Industrial supply chains requiring consistent 
throughput
• Seasonal peak volume management
• Proximity to Core Manufacturing Clusters
Located closer to major production centers 
including Foshan, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen, 
Nansha enables shorter drayage distances com-
pared to alternative ports. 
This proximity allows BCOs to:
• Lower first-mile transportation costs
• Improve cut-off compliance
• Increase overall supply chain velocity
Supporting ESG and Sustainability Goals
By shifting cargo from truck to rail and barge, 
BCOs can significantly reduce carbon emissions 
associated with inland transportation—supporting 
corporate sustainability targets without sacrificing 
efficiency or cost.
A Strategic Gateway for the Transpacific 
Supply Chain
With growing direct services to North America 
and expanding terminal capacity, Nansha is well-po-
sitioned to support BCOs seeking scalable, reliable 
export solutions from South China. Its intermod-
al-first design aligns with modern supply chain pri-
orities: cost control, speed, flexibility, and resilience.
capacity. The network connects 
major manufacturing and export 
hubs across China, Southeast 
Asia, South Asia, and Northeast 
Asia with key markets in North 
America, Europe, and the Med-
iterranean. For the Trans-Pacific 
market 
specifically, 
COSCO 
SHIPPING Lines offers 22 direct 
services under the DAY10 Prod-
uct. These include nine routes 
serving the U.S. Southwest 
Coast, five serving the Pacific 
Northwest, and eight connecting 
Asia with the U.S. East Coast 
and Gulf Coast. The services call 
at major gateways including Los 
Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle, 
New York/New Jersey, Norfolk, 
Savannah, Charleston, and Hous-
ton. For shippers, the DAY10 
Product is about providing greater 
network depth, routing flexibility, 
and resilience. Recent enhance-
ments have strengthened direct 
connectivity between Southeast 
Asia and North America and 
expanded routing options through 
Yangpu Port in Hainan Province. 
This is particularly relevant as 
companies continue to diver-
sify sourcing and manufacturing 
across Asia. The result is a broader 
range of service options that can 
help shippers adapt their supply 
chains while maintaining access to 
key North American markets.
AJOT: Beyond ocean car-
riage, COSCO SHIPPING (North 
America) has invested in expand-
ing its integrated logistics capa-
bilities in North and Central 
America. When did this strategic 
initiative begin and what was 
the motivation behind expand-
ing into supply chain operations 
beyond just ocean carriage? 
What are some of the specific 
(INVESTS – continued from 
page 27)
(INVESTS – continued on 
page 30)
COSCO SHIPPING IBT hybrid truck (photo: COSCO NA)

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