Key Routes Covered by Last-Mile Ocean Shipping?

Tail-end ocean freight usually refers to the small-batch cargo transportation service from major global ports to destination countries or regions. This mode of transportation is widely used in international trade, particularly in cross-border e-commerce, import and export businesses of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the distribution phase of bulk goods. The services and routes involved in tail-end ocean freight are very diverse, and the following will elaborate in detail based on relevant news information.

Main Services of Tail-end Ocean Freight

The core of tail-end ocean freight lies in providing efficient and convenient end-to-end delivery solutions. It not only covers traditional cargo transportation services but also extends to value-added services such as warehousing management, customs clearance agency, and local delivery. For instance, some international logistics companies integrate resources to establish logistics centers in target countries, offering customers door-to-door one-stop services. This enables tail-end ocean freight to meet the needs of different clients, whether they are enterprises requiring large-scale goods distribution or cross-border e-commerce platforms handling small-batch orders.

With the enhancement of environmental awareness, an increasing number of tail-end ocean freight service providers are adopting green transport solutions, such as using low-emission ships and optimizing route planning to reduce fuel consumption. These measures not only lower operating costs but also enhance the corporate social responsibility image. According to Logistics Times Weekly, a well-known logistics company recently launched an intelligent dispatching system based on big data analysis. This system can dynamically adjust routes according to real-time weather conditions and market demand, thus achieving more flexible and efficient tail-end ocean freight services.

Major Routes Involved

Tail-end ocean freight covers most major trade routes globally, mainly including intra-Asian routes, Asia-to-Europe-and-America routes, and inter-regional connecting routes.

Intra-Asian Routes

Intra-Asian routes are among the busiest lines in tail-end ocean freight, covering cargo exchanges between East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. In recent years, with the development of the ASEAN Economic Community AEC and the deepening of economic and trade relations between China and neighboring countries, the importance of this route has become increasingly prominent. According to Shipping Economics Watch statistics, the container throughput of intra-Asian routes increased by 8% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, with cargo volumes between China, Japan, and South Korea accounting for over 60% of the total. Especially under the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP, the reduction of trade barriers within the region has promoted more goods entering the final market through tail-end ocean freight.

Asia-to-Europe-and-America Routes

Asia-to-Europe-and-America routes are among the most representative inter-regional routes in tail-end ocean freight. This route primarily serves the export demands of Asian manufacturing bases to North America and Europe. Currently, many large liner companies operate on this route, such as Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company. They ensure timeliness while controlling costs through economies of scale and technological advantages. Notably, with the acceleration of global economic recovery, especially the strong demand from the United States and the European Union for high-value-added products such as new energy vehicle parts and electronic consumer goods, the cargo volume on this route continues to rise. Data shows that the number of containers shipped from China to the West Coast of the United States in the third quarter this year increased by about 15% compared to the same period last year.

Inter-regional Connecting Routes

Besides the above two categories of routes, there are some special inter-regional connecting routes worth mentioning. For example, the route from the east coast of Africa to the Middle East, or the route from Latin America to the Caribbean. Although these routes are smaller in scale, their unique geographical locations give them strategic significance. For instance, International Freight Weekly mentioned that with the gradual implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative on the African continent, an increasing number of Chinese enterprises are choosing to transport machinery, building materials, and other supplies to countries via tail-end ocean freight. This model not only promotes local infrastructure construction but also brings new development opportunities to related logistics enterprises.

Conclusion

In summary, as a key component of modern supply chain systems, tail-end ocean freight has long transcended the scope of simple cargo transportation. Whether it is the efficient operation of intra-Asian routes, the great potential of Asia-to-Europe-and-America routes, or the unique value of inter-regional connecting routes, all indicate that this field is experiencing rapid transformation and development. In the future, with the application of new technologies and improvements in policy environments, tail-end ocean freight will surely a broader development space, contributing more power to global economic integration.