THE COSCO shipping vessel “Ganjiangkou” docked at the Xiaomo International Logistics Port in the Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone on Monday, officially launching the new “Xiaomo-Australia” roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) shipping route. A total of 1,165 BYD new energy vehicles (NEVs) were loaded onto the ship, with additional vehicles to be loaded at the Shanghai Port before the vessel departs for Australia. This new route is expected to become a “golden logistics channel,” further strengthening automotive trade between China and Australia. The “Xiaomo-Australia” route is the 10th international Ro-Ro service established since the Xiaomo port opened for foreign trade. Vehicles shipped from the port can reach Australia in as little as 10 days. Currently, the port’s Ro-Ro routes connect six major global regions, including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Europe, South America, and Australia. Among BYD’s eight production bases across China, the Shenshan BYD Auto Industrial Park is the only large-scale facility strategically located adjacent to a seaport, enabling seamless “factory-port coordination” for overseas exports. Vehicles can be driven directly from the factory to the port in just five minutes, significantly reducing costs and improving efficiency. Xiaomo leverages its “port-industry synergy” model to provide a one-stop automotive supply chain solution. With Ro-Ro vehicle handling exceeding 200 units per hour, the port ensures rapid processing through 24/7 operations and streamlined customs procedures. Joint inspections by authorities allow ships to be cleared immediately upon arrival, ensuring “zero delays” in auto exports. Phase I of Xiaomo, which began operations in December 2021, features two 100,000-ton berths and one 50,000-ton berth. It has an annual capacity of 450,000 tons and 300,000 vehicles. To support Shenshan’s ambition of becoming a world-class automotive hub, construction of Phase II commenced in January 2024 and is scheduled for completion in 2028. Upon completion, Xiaomo will handle 1 million vehicles annually, positioning itself as a leading Ro-Ro export hub in southern China. (Tang Li) | 