Taicang port opened three international routes in the first 18 days of April, according to China News Services. A new route to Kanto, Japan was started on 8 April, the fourth direct service to operate between Taicang and Japan. According to statistics from the local port authorities, container throughput on the Japan-bound routes reached nearly 7,000 TEU in the first three months of the year.

On 17 April, the Norwegian low-cost container shipping company TCC started a weekly service to Los Angeles, on the US west coast. This is the first ever long- haul service to depart from Taicang. TCC is deploying five vessels on this route, each with the capacity to carry 2,600-2,800 TEU. The journey takes 14 days. The shipping line claims to have already attracted more than 50 manufacturers in the Suzhou region and the inaugural service achieved more than 75 per cent utilisation.

On 18 April, Fujian Huarong Marine Shipping started another weekly service to Keelung and Taichung in Taiwan. Taicang port authorities said that two to three more direct container services will be added later in the year to satisfy demand. Suzhou boasts more than 8,000 manufacturing companies invested by Taiwan businesses, the largest concentration in the country.

Taicang, located in Jiangsu province at the mouth of the Yangtze, now has 70 regular services including 10 international routes. All the world’s top 20 shipping lines have established operations there. By the end of 2010, the water level will reach 12.5 metres, allowing 50,000 dwt vessels to reach Taicang all year round.