On August 17, as the cargo ship “MTS Kuma” set sail from Xiamen Port in China to Indonesia fully loaded with marble products and other goods, Xiamen Port added another “BRICS route.” This brings the total number of “BRICS routes” at Xiamen Port to 24.
This year, Indonesia became an official member of the BRICS nations. As a major economic province on China’s southeastern coast and a renowned hometown of overseas Chinese, Fujian possesses natural and unique advantages in economic and trade cooperation with Indonesia. As a strategic hub city in the core area of the “Maritime Silk Road,” Xiamen has actively expanded trade cooperation and route networks with other BRICS countries.
The newly launched route is operated monthly by MTS alone. Departing from Xiamen Port, it passes through Qingdao and Shanghai before heading south directly to Jakarta, Indonesia. After loading cargo in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar, the ship returns.
According to a relevant official from the Dongdu Immigration Inspection Station of Xiamen Border Inspection Station, as of now, Xiamen Port has 24 maritime “BRICS routes,” covering 20 major ports in six BRICS countries, including India, Indonesia, and South Africa. These routes transport Fujian specialty goods such as clothing, footwear, and home and bathroom products to markets worldwide.
Xiamen Customs officials stated that compared to traditional Indonesian routes from Xiamen Port, this route has fewer port calls, reducing transit time by nearly 25%. It meets the demand of trade partners along the route for stable shipping cycles and is particularly suitable for bulk commodities, industrial components, and other goods requiring relatively balanced transport efficiency.
