COSCO Shipping has launched a new roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) service linking Venice with ports in China, strengthening direct maritime connectivity between Southern Europe and East Asia and expanding options for automotive and high-and-heavy cargo.
The new route is designed to handle vehicles, construction machinery, project cargo, and other wheeled or oversized units, offering exporters and manufacturers a direct alternative to transhipment-heavy services. Venice will serve as the European gateway, leveraging its proximity to Northern Italy’s industrial clusters and onward road and rail links into Central and Eastern Europe.
COSCO said the service aims to reduce transit times and logistics complexity for customers moving finished vehicles and industrial equipment between Europe and China. The launch comes as demand for RoRo capacity grows, driven by automotive trade, electric vehicles, and project cargo flows.
Port officials in Venice said the new RoRo connection enhances the port’s role as a southern European hub for vehicle and project cargo, supporting regional manufacturers and logistics providers. The service is expected to generate additional throughput and improve supply-chain resilience.
Industry sources noted that the Venice–China RoRo route reflects shipping lines’ broader push to diversify routings and expand specialised services amid shifting trade patterns and capacity constraints in other segments.
With the new service, COSCO continues to expand its RoRo network, positioning itself to capture growth in automotive exports, heavy equipment movements, and cross-continental industrial trade.