China port opens new Mediterranean route

China's Tianjin port, the fourth largest in the world, has opened a new shipping route to the eastern coast of the Mediterranean sea, the media reported on Thursday.

The route, run by nine container ships, will cover countries like Malaysia, India, Israel, Egypt and Turkey, the Global Times reported.

"The new route will reduce cargo transit time through other ports, thus, guaranteeing efficiency," said Yu Guoqing, assistant to the general manager of the Tianjin port shipping company.

Each ship can carry up to 4,250 containers.

Since the beginning of this year, the port has opened 10 routes along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which traverses a vast expanse of Asian, African and European waters, Yu added.

Over 300 liners sail every month along the maritime route.

From January to September, Tianjin port handled over 400 million tonnes of cargo.