A freight vessel carrying over 2,700 domestically made vehicles and pieces of construction machinery has departed from Suzhou Port, bound for Durban in South Africa.

The voyage marked the launch of the first direct cargo shipping route from the Yangtze River basin to Africa and offers combined roll-on/roll-off and container shipping services. The shipping route will streamline transportation of goods between China and Africa, making it easier for local businesses to access African markets.