China’s US$10.8b short cut: new Pinglu Canal prepares to supercharge Asean trade

Following the inspection, the first command vessel for the canal was delivered, signaling the start of navigational services, according to bastillepost.com. A Guangxi official subsequently invited participants of the China‑ASEAN Expo to tour the facility, as reported by People’s Daily Online.

HKTDC Research framed the canal as a key segment of a new International Land‑Sea Trade Corridor that could reshape regional supply chains, highlighting its capacity to move goods between inland China and Southeast Asian ports more efficiently. With operational readiness confirmed, the canal is positioned to shorten maritime routes between China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations members, a point emphasized by the South China Morning Post.

The $10.8 billion investment is expected to provide a shortcut that reduces travel time for container ships, supporting faster movement of goods across the region. Industry observers note that the canal completes a broader push to integrate land‑based and sea‑based logistics networks, though specific capacity figures have not been disclosed.