German retailer Lidl’s Tailwind Shipping Lines has proved a success just two years after the chain announced its foray into the logistics world.
Lidl, which is part of the Schwarz Group, the fifth-largest retailer in the world, announced in 2022 that it would be opening the line in response to its frustration over delays and shortages during the container volume rebound after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The retailer launched its Hamburg-based shipping line on July 16, 2022, with the departure of its first vessel, the Wiking, from Taicang, China. The company was opened originally to move non-food cargo from Asia to Europe, exclusively for Lidl, however it quickly expanded to offer capacity to third party customers.
In just two years its fleet has grown to nine vessels with capacities ranging from 920 TEUs to 6 800 TEUs. Its latest addition, Panda 006, formerly known as Kea, is the largest vessel in the fleet. The fleet’s total capacity is more than 35 000 TEUs.
Tailwind focuses on regional ports close to major trading hubs and limits port calls on its routes. Its main route is from China to Barcelona, Spain and Koper, Slovenia. It aims to avoid delays and shorten turnaround times by calling at smaller, less busy ports.
The company operates three primary services:
• Panda Express (PAX): This service connects Qingdao, Ningbo, and Dachan Bay in China with Barcelona, Spain, and Koper, Slovenia. Tailwind has rerouted its fleet around the Cape of Good Hope to maintain service reliability and avoid threats in the Red Sea.
• Tiger Express (TEX): This service is a feeder for the PAX. The TEX operates between Chattogram, Bangladesh, and Colombo, Sri Lanka, enabling efficient cargo transfer from Bangladesh.
• Dolphin Express (DEX): This service connects Barcelona, Spain, with Moerdijk, the Netherlands, facilitating intra-European logistics.
Tailwind Shipping Lines managing director Christian Stang said the company had established itself in the market as “a premium service provider that transports goods to and from Asia.
“In doing so, we are fast, on time, and reliable. This is an essential service for us at Lidl, in particular, given our fixed promotion schedule and special offers that change on a weekly basis.”
Lidl operates 12 350 stores and 225 distribution and logistics centres across 31 countries. In addition to selling fresh food, the retailer offers a wide range of consumer goods such as household items and hardware.
