Pacific International Lines (PIL) has announced the launch of its China Calcutta Service (CCS), which it said is the first in the market to link South China directly to Calcutta.

The weekly service started on July 2, 2024, from Xiamen.

"PIL is pleased to be a pioneer in offering a direct China to Calcutta service, supporting the high growth and trade in these two economies. This service also connects customers with a gateway to Singapore for the Southeast Asia market, as well as Bangladesh, the East Coast of India and Myanmar,"  said Surendran Mathilagath, general manager of Intra-Asia Services at PIL.

"The launch of this service demonstrates PIL's continued commitment to be a first mover to meet the needs of the market by providing customised solutions for our customers," he added.

The CSS service follows the Xiamen – Shekou – Singapore – Calcutta – Singapore – Xiamen port rotation.