Hai An Lines started a new container service connecting Chennai with ports in China, Malaysia, and Vietnam on October 3, 2026. The ship HAIAN BETA arrived on Saturday to boost trade. This route supports growing business ties, as India and Vietnam aim for a 25 billion dollar trade target by 2030.
Hai An Lines, a Vietnam-based container shipping and logistics company, has launched a service connecting Chennai Port with ports in China and Vietnam.
The maiden service to Chennai commenced on Saturday, with HAIAN BETA calling at Chennai Port. The service rotation is Chennai-Port Klang West (Malaysia)-Haiphong (Vietnam)-Nansha (China).
The new service provides an additional regular maritime connectivity option between Chennai and Vietnam, while strengthening Chennai Port's links with key trade centres in Malaysia and South China, the company said in a release.
India-Vietnam merchandise trade has continued to expand. According to the Embassy of India, Hanoi, citing Department of Commerce data, bilateral merchandise trade reached $18 billion in FY2025-26, a 16 per cent increase year-on-year. India's exports to Vietnam stood at $7 billion, while imports were $12 billion, the release said.
Major Indian exports to Vietnam in FY2025-26 included meat and meat products, aluminium, seafood, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, electrical equipment, cereals, animal-feed ingredients and auto components. Imports from Vietnam included mobile phones and electronic items, machinery and equipment, iron and steel, copper, plastics, chemicals, coffee, tea, spices, aluminium and glass products.
The expanding India-Vietnam trade relationship offers scope for strengthening containerised trade through Chennai Port. Chennai and Tamil Nadu have a strong industrial base in automobiles and auto components, engineering goods, electronics, machinery, chemicals, textiles and other manufacturing sectors, creating potential for both export and import cargo.
India and Vietnam have also agreed to explore practical measures to achieve a bilateral trade target of $25 billion by 2030, providing a broader framework for further expansion of commercial and maritime linkages, the release said.