Maersk said it operated a dedicated train of medical cargoes from Xiamen, Fujian Province, China to the United Kingdom carrying forty-one, 40’ container consignment on April 21 as demand for rail services grew amid current constraints in both air and sea transport.

The Danish integrated container logistics company said the train will stop at Duisburg, Germany and the cargoes will be transferred to the UK by trucks in early May.

“We are proud of winning the trust from our customer as transporting medical cargoes needs extra dedication, especially when container shortages and port congestions are an industry-wide challenge across Asia,” Candy Tang, Maersk Intercontinental Rail product manager, Maersk Greater China said, adding that Maersk “will continue to work with rail partners in China” to cater to its customers needs.

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, Maersk noted that the demand for rapid antigen self-test kits has increased. It said its client in the pharmaceutical sector, for example, has purchased almost five hundred 40’-containers of these detection kits, and Maersk will arrange the transportation in the following two months.

Boom in intercontinental rail transport cited

”The supply chains for pharmaceutical customers include high levels of complexity and we understand the need for reliability as well as the importance of products getting to the patients. Intercontinental rail is a good choice and can add value and alternative solutions to their supply chain, helping them to secure greater resilience,” Hristo Petkov, global head of pharmaceuticals at Maersk said.

The supply chains for pharmaceutical customers include high levels of complexity and we understand the need for reliability as well as the importance of products getting to the patients.

Maersk noted that since the outbreak of Covid-19 last year, Maersk Intercontinental rail product has played a crucial role in supporting clients to arrange shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) cargoes, time-sensitive cargoes, and raw materials from China to Europe.

“To help customers mitigate their supply chain disruptions, Maersk remains customer-centric, providing long-term value through integrated products and digital solutions. During 2020, Maersk has operated a total of 210 tailored intercontinental trains from China to European countries, among which 60 are dedicated delivery of crucial medical equipment,” Nora Lin, head of Logistics Products, Maersk’s Greater China added.

“With customers’ increasing interest in transporting cargoes via rail services, we are doing our utmost to provide this cost-efficient, environmentally friendly mode of transportation,” she added.

In an attempt to better cater to the ever-changing needs of its customers around the world, A.P. Moller - Maersk said its block train services have been extended to 40 corridors in 13 countries.