A fast cargo shipping route from Zhangjiagang Port in east China’s Suzhou City to Chancay Port in Peru opened on Friday, marking the launch of China’s first direct general cargo liner service to Chancay, according to port authorities in Suzhou.

The new service will run once a month, and will allow goods to be delivered to Chancay in as little as 32 days — five days less than the average market voyage, according to the route operator, COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd.

The route’s flexible, multi-purpose ship configuration can meet the export needs of goods such as grinding balls and engineering vehicles, and support the import requirements of bulk commodities such as copper concentrate and iron ore, the operator said.

About 500,000 chargeable tonnes of general cargo are expected to be shipped from Suzhou to the west coast of Central America and South America every year following the launch of the service. It will provide efficient door-to-port logistics services, enabling enterprises in Suzhou and China’s Yangtze River Delta region to expand their South American markets and build more complete shipping network support for the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, according to Suzhou Port Group Co., Ltd.