APL has expanded its Asia-Mediterranean network with the launch of its India Pakistan-Mediterranean Express service.

The new IPM service is APL’s first weekly service connecting India and Pakistan directly with the Mediterranean market.

“APL’s new IPM service signifies another milestone in broadening our Indian subcontinent service offerings,” said Eric Eng, head of Asia-Europe trade at APL. “APL customers in South Asia can expect to benefit from its direct shipping route and wide coverage of the Mediterranean ports. With its strategic port rotation that serves the major transhipment hubs of Malta, Damietta, Piraeus, Nhava Sheva and Mundra, shippers can tap on APL’s global network at these relay ports for further connectivity into vast key European, Asia and the US East Coast markets.”

The service has a port rotation of: Khor Fakkan – Karachi - Nhava Sheva – Mundra – Djibouti – Jeddah – Damietta – Piraeus – Malta – Aliaga – Mersin – Port Said West, with a transit time of 24 days from Karachi to Port Said West.

The first sailing will depart from the Port of Karachi July 2, 2017.

The IPM service also offers handling of outbound cargo from India through a network of inland container depots located across the country before heading for the ports of Mundra and Nhava Sheva, according to APL.