Ministry of SMEs and Startups Expands Support for Complex Shipping of U.S. Exporting SMEs in Collaboration with Post Office

Utilizing Post Office Logistics Support Network for Combined Maritime and Inland Transportation

Example of North American export cargo maritime-inland transportation linkage support. Photo by Ministry of SMEs and Startups

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 26th that it will support multimodal transportation for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Gwangyang Port to the U.S. inland in collaboration with the Post Office Logistics Support Group.

Exporting SMEs will be able to use logistics support services linking maritime transport to the U.S. West Coast ('Maritime Transport Support Project') and truck transport ('Cargo Logistics Linkage Service') starting from the 27th.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will allocate 20 TEUs out of 750 TEUs of shipping space to the U.S. West Coast exclusively for inland transportation. The Post Office Logistics Support Group will provide inland transport (truck) services through forwarder companies.

To support exporting SMEs facing difficulties due to container shortages and soaring maritime freight rates caused by COVID-19, the Ministry has supported a total of 12,457 TEUs of dedicated shipping space for SMEs over 60 occasions since November last year.

Through this linked support, the Ministry expects SMEs to diversify logistics methods to the U.S. East Coast and enjoy freight cost reduction effects through multimodal transport in preparation for the year-end consumption season such as Black Friday.

The multimodal transport support project will be applied starting with vessels departing for the U.S. West Coast in October. SMEs wishing to participate in the project can check detailed information at their local post office and the Kobiz Korea website.

Kang Gisung, Director of the Global Growth Policy Division at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, "This maritime-inland multimodal transport support is expected to serve as an alternative to the shortage of shipping space to the U.S. East Coast, and the Ministry will continue to prepare logistics support measures through public-private cooperation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.