Singapore-based Jade Pacific Line (JPL) has entered the regional container shipping market with a new shuttle service connecting India with the Red Sea, adding another player to the increasingly competitive intra-Asia and Middle East short-haul shipping sector.
Established in Singapore in April 2026, JPL was founded by a group of former executives of SeaLead Shipping, which ceased operations earlier this year following US sanctions action over its alleged links to Iran. Former SeaLead Chief Commercial Officer Doreen Yeo has been named Chief Executive Officer of the new company.
The newly introduced service is understood to operate on the port rotation of Mundra – Nhava Sheva – Karachi – Sokhna – Mundra, providing a direct maritime connection between two major Indian container gateways, Pakistan and Egypt’s Red Sea coast.
JPL has deployed the 1,118-TEU container vessel Medkon Sia on the service. The vessel made its maiden call at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) on October 4, 2026, and is being used to establish the new shipping loop.
While the company has not officially disclosed the service’s capacity and sailing frequency, industry sources indicate that JPL may initially operate the service to assess market demand before introducing additional vessels and moving towards a fixed fortnightly or weekly schedule.
The launch comes amid growing interest in India–Middle East shipping routes, where freight rates have witnessed a significant increase amid geopolitical tensions and operational uncertainties. According to the Container Trades Statistics India–Middle East price index, freight rates in August 2026 were more than 250% higher year-on-year.
The growing demand for regional shipping connectivity is also attracting smaller and emerging carriers seeking opportunities beyond the established global liner operators. Focused regional services can offer additional connections between specific trade markets, particularly where cargo demand supports dedicated shipping links.
The competitive landscape is also evolving following SeaLead’s exit, with emerging Chinese carrier CULines capturing a substantial portion of the capacity released into the market. CULines has expanded its fleet to more than 50 containerships and recently placed an order for two 14,000-TEU vessels at China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding.
Despite increasing competition, intra-Asia and India–Middle East trade lanes continue to attract new capacity, supported by concentrated manufacturing centres, changing supply-chain strategies and growing regional trade opportunities.
Jade Pacific Line’s entry highlights the continuing interest of emerging shipping operators in short-haul regional trades, with its new India–Red Sea service adding another option for containerised cargo movements between the Indian subcontinent and the wider Red Sea region.