Shanghai:DP World is set to enhance its shipping network between China and Africa with the introduction of the China Africa Link, a new weekly service aimed at improving connectivity between the Far East and Africa. This development is part of DP World's efforts to provide customers with increased options, better market access, and more resilient supply chains.
According to Emirates News Agency, the China Africa Link is scheduled to commence operations in late November 2026. This service will bolster maritime connectivity between China and the growing markets in East and Southern Africa, operated by DP World's Shipping Solutions AMEA business.
The China Africa Link will follow a port rotation that includes Shanghai, Ningbo, and Nansha in China, Port Klang Westport in Malaysia, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Maputo in Mozambique, and Singapore, before returning to Shanghai. This rotation will enhance connections between major Chinese export hubs and key African markets, supporting trade movements across established and emerging routes.
The service exemplifies DP World Marine Services' Connected Trade Corridors approach, integrating maritime solutions, ports, and inland transport to create more flexible trade networks. By strengthening these connections, the service will offer customers additional routing options and support growing trade flows between regional and international markets.
Ganesh Raj, Global COO of Marine Services at DP World, highlighted the changing landscape of global trade and the need for reliable connections and flexible shipping networks to adapt to evolving trade patterns. The China Africa Link is positioned to open more opportunities for businesses and create smarter shipping networks.
The new service will facilitate the movement of various goods, including machinery, electronics, construction materials, automotive components from China, and African exports such as agricultural products and minerals.
Additionally, the launch aligns with DP World's investments in African trade infrastructure, including a $165 million expansion of the Maputo container terminal in Mozambique and over $500 million modernization of the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. These efforts, combined with the China Africa Link, demonstrate DP World's commitment to expanding customer choice and supporting South-South trade growth.