Direct container trade launches in Kwangyang and Osaka

A new direct container trade is expected in the route between Kwangyang and Osaka by next March at the latest. .
According to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF) April 4, the South Cholla provincial government is planning to build an Agriculture and Fisheries Export Logistic Center of 1,200 pyoung (1 pyoung is approximately 3.306 square meters) by the end of 2002 in Kwangyang in order to bring together agricultural and fisheries products produced in eastern South Cholla province and western South Kyoungsang province for export to Japan. The warehouse will require 12 billion won.
South Cholla province is in discussions with Dongnama Line, Heung-A Shipping and Namsung shipping to launch the service in Kwangyang and Osaka trade from next March on a twice weekly schedule.
An official at MOMAF explained that the South Cholla government expects many exporters to use Kwangyang as they will save around 170,000 won per TEU due to container tax, wharfage, and port charge exemptions at the port. He added that shipping lines are also thinking positively about it as it affords them the opportunity to import raw materials and manufactured goods from Japan after delivering agricultural and fisheries products.
Other Kwangyang and Japan trades include Sinokor's weekly container services in the Kwangyang and Tokyo route and Kwangyang and Yokohama route. They have been providing these services since December, 2001.