DP World Strengthens China-Africa Trade Links with New Weekly Shipping Service

DUBAI: DP World's Shipping Solutions AMEA business (Shipping Solutions) is expanding its China-Africa shipping network with the introduction of the China Africa Link, a new weekly service aimed at improving trade connectivity between the Far East and Africa. The service will offer customers more shipping options, wider market access and stronger supply chain resilience.

Operated by Shipping Solutions, the China Africa Link is scheduled to begin operations in late November 2026. It will strengthen maritime links between China and the growing markets of East and Southern Africa.

The service will follow a port rotation covering 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. The route will create additional connections between major Chinese export centres and important African markets, supporting cargo movement across established and emerging trade routes.

The China Africa Link also reflects DP World Marine Services' Connected Trade Corridors strategy. This approach combines maritime services, port infrastructure and inland transport to build more integrated and flexible trade networks. By adding connections to key African gateways, the service will give customers more routing choices, accommodate growing cargo volumes and strengthen links between regional and international markets.

Ganesh Raj, Global COO, Marine Services, DP World, said: "Global trade is changing, and our customers need more than shipping capacity. They need reliable connections, greater choice and the flexibility to adapt as trade patterns evolve. The new China Africa Link demonstrates how we are bringing our Connected Trade Corridors approach to life. By strengthening maritime connectivity between China and Africa, we are opening up more opportunities for businesses and creating smarter, more flexible shipping networks that help keep cargo moving."

The service is expected to handle a broad mix of cargo, including machinery, electronics, construction materials and automotive components shipped from China. African exports moving through the network will include agricultural products, minerals and other commodities.

The launch also builds on DP World's investments in African trade infrastructure. In Mozambique, the company is carrying out a $165 million expansion of its Maputo container terminal, a project expected to more than double its cargo handling capacity. In Tanzania, DP World has committed over $500 million towards modernising the Port of Dar es Salaam.

Together, the new shipping service and these infrastructure projects highlight DP World's strategy of linking port development with maritime services. The combined efforts are intended to give customers greater choice, improve regional connectivity and support the continued expansion of South-South trade.