New cargo route to Indonesia marks major supply chain upgrade for SPG

A new chapter in China-ASEAN maritime trade has opened with the recent departure of the vessel Baoningling from the Weifang Port Area. Carrying 17,000 metric tons of general cargo, the ship's departure officially inaugurates a regular public shipping route between Shandong Port Group's (SPG) Bohaiwan Port and Indonesia, signaling a significant modernization of this supply chain.

Previously, Indonesia-bound services functioned as private, "one-on-one" logistics solutions tailored for specific clients. While flexible, these operations lacked the scale to reach major regional hubs. The transition to a standardized public route establishes a reliable, scheduled network connecting directly to primary Indonesian gateways such as Jakarta and Surabaya, vastly improving market accessibility and service frequency.

This voyage also demonstrated an expansion in operational capability, featuring the first-ever shipment of heavy engineering vehicles via this route. This achievement highlights the port's evolution into a full-process service provider capable of handling complex, high-value industrial cargo with specialized storage and priority berthing.

The growth of this corridor is backed by strong performance data. In 2025, the "Weifang-ASEAN" service system recorded 96 voyages with a total throughput of 1.31 million tons. By capitalizing on RCEP trade benefits, Bohaiwan Port is successfully pivoting from traditional bulk handling to high-value integrated logistics, strengthening the strategic link between northern China and Southeast Asian markets.

The vessel loads cargo at Weifang Port to transport them to Indonesia. [Photo/WeChat account: Shandong-Port]