The global logistics company DHL has launched direct Less Container Load (LCL) services connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Hamburg (Germany), Genoa (Italy) and Los Angeles (the US).

Operated by DHL's in-house carrier, Danmar Lines, the new weekly direct LCL services shave up to a week off transit times.

The launch of the service taps into the key trade lanes for businesses in Vietnam, DHL said, adding that with exports worth 12.2 billion USD to Europe in 2008, the two European destinations facilitate trade with the Vietnam's largest export region.

This is followed closely by the US, to which Vietnam exported goods worth 11.86 billion USD last year, it noted.

With this new offering, DHL now serves 54 destinations in the US with its inland network via Los Angeles, and 26 European destinations through Genoa and Hamburg.

Amadou Diallo, chief executive officer of DHL Global Forwarding in the South Asian Pacific, said the LCL service will provide cost-saving solutions for customers as well as support a healthy trade relationship between Vietnam and the three countries./.