The world's largest state-owned container shipping group, headquartered in Shanghai, China, formed in 2016 through the merger of COSCO and China Shipping, with a capacity of approximately 3.2 million TEU, ranking fourth. A member of the Ocean Alliance, it owns OOCL.
Basic Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| English Name | COSCO Shipping Lines |
| SCAC Code | COSU |
| Headquarters | Shanghai, China |
| Established | 2016 (merger and restructuring) |
| Shipping Alliance | Ocean Alliance |
| Fleet Capacity | Approx. 3.2 million TEU (2025 Alphaliner) |
| Global Ranking | 4th |
| Number of Vessels | Approx. 500 (owned + chartered) |
Company Overview
China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited was formed in 2016 through the merger of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO) and China Shipping Group (China Shipping), under the administration of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC). The merged entity became the world's largest state-owned shipping enterprise, with total assets exceeding one trillion RMB. Its core businesses include container shipping, bulk cargo transportation, tanker shipping, port investment and operations, logistics, and shipping finance.
In the container shipping sector, COSCO Shipping operates through two brands: COSCO Shipping Lines and its subsidiary OOCL, adopting a differentiated market strategy. COSCO Shipping is one of the world's largest terminal operators, investing in and operating over 50 port terminals globally, including strategic hubs such as Piraeus Port in Greece, Chancay Port in Peru, and Valencia Port in Spain. In 2023, COSCO Shipping acquired Vado Terminal in Italy, the third largest independent terminal operator in the Mediterranean region, further enhancing its port network in Europe. COSCO Shipping has its strongest roots in the Chinese market and is one of the most convenient carriers for domestic export enterprises.
Main Route Network
| Route | Typical Port Rotation | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Asia-Europe (AEU Series) | Shanghai—Ningbo—Yantian—Singapore—Suez—Piraeus—Hamburg—Rotterdam—Antwerp | Weekly |
| Transpacific (AAC Series) | Yantian—Shanghai—Ningbo—Busan—Long Beach—Seattle—Vancouver | Weekly |
| Asia-Mediterranean | Qingdao—Shanghai—Ningbo—Xiamen—Yantian—Singapore—Port Said—Gioia Tauro—La Spezia—Valencia | Weekly |
| Asia-West Coast South America | Shanghai—Ningbo—Shekou—Hong Kong—Busan—Manzanillo—Callao—San Antonio | Weekly |
| Asia-Middle East/Red Sea | Tianjin—Qingdao—Shanghai—Ningbo—Shekou—Singapore—Jebel Ali—Dammam—Jeddah | Weekly |
Ports of Call in China
COSCO Shipping has the most extensive route coverage within China and is the liner company with the highest density of port calls in the country:
- East China: Shanghai, Ningbo, Lianyungang, Taicang
- South China: Shenzhen (Yantian/Shekou/Chiwan), Guangzhou (Nansha), Xiamen, Fuzhou, Shantou
- North China: Tianjin, Qingdao, Dalian, Yingkou, Yantai
- Along the Yangtze River: Nanjing, Wuhan, Chongqing (via Yangtze River feeder services and sea-rail intermodal)
Operational Notes
- Booking Method: Submit booking requests through Bofeng Logistics, which will process them in the COSCO Shipping system.
- Bill of Lading Issuance: COSCO Shipping only issues Master Bills of Lading (MBL) and does not support House Bills of Lading (HBL).
- Container Tracking: Bofeng Logistics provides customers with cargo status information via COSCO Shipping's tracking system.
- Special Cargo: DG cargo must strictly comply with Chinese maritime regulations; reefer containers for Southeast Asia should be booked 2 weeks in advance.
- Seasonal Factors: The peak season for COSCO's routes is from July to October. However, due to its state-owned background and proprietary terminal advantages, it offers greater stability in capacity during peak periods compared to other shipping companies. The period around Chinese New Year is also a peak shipping season; it is recommended to confirm space 2-3 weeks in advance.
- Transit Time Reference: South China to Europe approx. 25-30 days (faster to the Balkans via Piraeus transshipment), South China to US West Coast approx. 15-18 days, South China to Mediterranean approx. 22-28 days, South China to West Coast South America approx. 28-35 days, South China to Middle East approx. 18-22 days.
- Limitations: COSCO Shipping only issues MBL and does not accept HBL, which may not be suitable for trade terms requiring HBL for settlement. During peak seasons, space on some European and American routes may be preferentially allocated to contract customers, with limited spot market capacity.
Bofeng Logistics Services
As a first-tier freight forwarder cooperating with COSCO Shipping, Bofeng Logistics leverages the stability of its state-owned background, the densest port call network in China, and the global proprietary terminal layout to provide enterprises with secure full-chain shipping services:
- Relying on COSCO Shipping's largest number of port calls in China (covering the entire coast from Yingkou to Shantou) and its Yangtze River feeder network, Bofeng Logistics offers inland and coastal customers optimal port-of-loading options and domestic segment connection solutions.
- Utilizing COSCO Shipping's priority operational rights at its own terminals in strategic global ports such as Piraeus, Chancay, and Valencia, Bofeng Logistics can secure faster unloading and transshipment times for main cargoes, ensuring end-to-end control from the terminal side.
- For exports from various ports in the Pearl River Delta, Bofeng Logistics provides one-stop services including container trucking, export customs clearance, and cargo insurance. With COSCO Shipping's stable state-owned capacity, it offers reliable space guarantees for long-term contract customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the relationship between COSCO Shipping and OOCL? COSCO Shipping Group completed the full acquisition of OOCL in 2018, but retained the OOCL brand as an independent operation, implementing a "dual-brand" strategy. COSCO Shipping Lines and its subsidiary OOCL operate as two independent brands in the market, each with its own customer systems and management teams. OOCL maintains its headquarters in Hong Kong and enjoys significant operational autonomy within the COSCO Shipping Group, while COSCO Shipping Lines focuses on global route deployment headquartered in Shanghai. The two complement each other in capacity deployment and route networks rather than competing.
Q2: What are COSCO Shipping's own terminals? COSCO Shipping is one of the world's largest terminal operators, with investments and operations in over 50 port terminals globally. Strategic hub terminals include: Piraeus Port in Greece (COSCO Shipping holds a controlling stake, making it one of the largest container hub ports in the Eastern Mediterranean), Chancay Port in Peru (a strategic deep-water port on the West Coast of South America), Valencia Port in Spain, and Vado Terminal in Italy (the third largest independent terminal operator in the Mediterranean). Additionally, COSCO Shipping holds stakes in several major domestic ports such as Qingdao Port, Shanghai Port, and Xiamen Ocean Gate Terminal, forming a global terminal network.
Q3: What type of shippers is COSCO Shipping suitable for? Leveraging the capacity stability brought by its state-owned background and the widest coverage of Chinese ports, COSCO Shipping is particularly suitable for long-term contract export enterprises and customers with high requirements for domestic logistics connections. Its comprehensive port call network along China's coast from Yingkou to Shantou, combined with Yangtze River feeder services and sea-rail intermodal systems, offers optimal port-of-loading choices for inland and coastal exporters. Furthermore, COSCO Shipping has priority operational rights at its own terminals along the Belt and Road routes, making it suitable for cargo destined for emerging markets.
Practical Experience
In Bofeng Logistics' cooperation with COSCO Shipping, we have genuinely experienced the time advantages brought by its proprietary terminals. Taking Piraeus Port in Greece as an example, COSCO Shipping holds a controlling stake in the port, allowing its vessels to berth and unload with priority. Compared to other shipping companies without terminal resources in Piraeus, unloading time can be 1-2 days faster. This is a tangible time advantage for customers whose cargo needs to be transshipped from Piraeus to the Balkans or into Central Europe via rail.
COSCO Shipping's sea-rail intermodal service is another product we frequently recommend to customers in practice. Departing from coastal ports in South China, COSCO Shipping's sea-rail network can directly reach inland cities such as Chengdu, Chongqing, and Xi'an, offering a single "sea + rail" through bill. We recommend inland export enterprises consider this solution first, as it can effectively reduce trucking costs and improve overall logistics efficiency.
The stability of a state-owned enterprise is another advantage we clearly feel in practice. During periods of severe fluctuation in the shipping market, COSCO Shipping's rate adjustments are relatively moderate, and contract fulfillment rates are high. However, for customers with ad-hoc shipments, COSCO Shipping's spot market space is sometimes less flexible than other carriers. We recommend customers with stable shipping volumes sign long-term contracts to lock in better rates and service guarantees.
Selection Advice
Needs: Medium to large export enterprises requiring long-term stable capacity, or customers shipping from multiple domestic inland/coastal ports needing efficient domestic connections. Choice: COSCO Shipping provides reliable capacity guarantees and global port-to-port controlled services for contract customers through the capacity stability of its state-owned background, the widest coverage of Chinese ports (from Yingkou to Shantou), and priority operational rights at global strategic terminals such as Piraeus and Chancay.
Contact Us
- Carrier Official Website: https://lines.coscoshipping.com
- Bofeng Logistics COSCO Booking Hotline: 130-7567-8958
- Email: info@zhbfwl.com