The Strait of Malacca is known as the longest and busiest strait in the world. Over 600 years ago, Chinese navigator Zheng He sailed the Maritime Silk Road, passing through this strait several times, promoting the exchange of civilizations between China and other nations through goodwill and neighborliness.

As the gateway to the Malacca Strait, Singapore is more than just a stone's throw away from China—it's a longstanding and cherished neighbor. The city-state staunchly backs the "Belt and Road" initiative, positioning itself as a vital and influential partner that sets the stage for cooperation. The Sino-Singaporean relationship epitomizes foresight, strategy, and exemplarity, acting as a catalyst for the individual and mutual growth of both nations, as well as setting the benchmark for other countries in the region.

SUMEC has been an enthusiastic participant in the "Belt and Road" initiative, capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and fostering in-depth and extensive collaboration with Singapore. SUMEC operates five companies in Singapore, including two shipping firms focused on deepening their presence in the maritime sector and three trading companies that facilitate SUMEC's investment, trading, and settlement functions for its ASEAN business ventures. These investments in Singapore have been instrumental in bolstering the high-quality development trajectory of SUMEC.

Charting the Seas, Venturing into Uncharted Waters

Standing in SUMEC's showroom, you can see a dense network of shipping routes converging in Singapore, creating a vibrant "pivot point" on the map. From here, the lines stretch outwards, tracing the paths of vessels heading to every corner of the world, sketching out the sprawling and interconnected Silk Road.

Singapore is the heart of Southeast Asia, a crossroads where the East meets the West. Every ship sailing from Europe, the Middle East, South Asia to Eastern Asia or Australia passes through this key juncture, making it one of the world's critical international shipping hubs.

SUMEC set its sights on Singapore as early as 2010, drawn by the city-state's unique strategic location and industrial strengths. SUMEC Marine Co., Ltd., a subsidiary shipping company of SUMEC, began its international maritime operations there. Since then, SUMEC has consistently enhanced its operational and management capabilities. Focused on the supply chain and industry chain, SUMEC has implemented a series of strategic initiatives in Singapore. By actively developing distribution channels, marketing its own brands, and optimizing resource allocation, SUMEC has steadily built a comprehensive service capability that extends from the upstream to the downstream of the industry chain, setting forth on a new journey to navigate the "deep blue."

SUMEC Marine advances the shipping and shipbuilding sectors by coordinating activities like order procurement, technical management, and ship financing, achieving a dual drive of "ship manufacturing and shipping." In 2019, a professional international team was established in Singapore to seize market opportunities.

SUMEC International Technology Co., Ltd. leverages Singapore's trade platform and SUMEC’s investments in subsidiaries or offices in Southeast Asia to enhance overseas resource development and market expansion, continuously refining its global supply chain services. SUMEC Textile & Light Industry Co., Ltd., with strong support from Singapore's trade platform, has invested in constructing four industrial factories in Myanmar and Vietnam, pioneering the development of a "one-stop" competitive and distinctive overseas apparel industry supply chain.

Setting Sail Together, Shaping the Future

Singapore's growth is inextricably linked to its shipping industry, and SUMEC's development and pursuit journey in Singapore is deeply intertwined with shipping and shipbuilding.

Along the Singapore River, the Marina South Wharf is bustling as usual, with cargo ships coming and going, and loading and unloading operations running continuously. On August 16th, a long whistle signaled the docking of the vessel CL Yichun at Singapore's anchorage for refueling. This vessel, operated by SUMEC Marine, was chartered by the international trading giant Cargill. After loading coal at a port of Uruguay, it sailed along the Maritime Silk Road, bound for Qingdao Port.

During its stopover in Singapore, SUMEC's shipping team boarded the vessel CL Yichun to inspect the ship's operations and listen to the needs of the crew. Captain Pritam Jha expressed his gratitude, saying, "SUMEC's specialized services ensured the ship's efficient and smooth operation. As the ship owner, SUMEC extends care to our crew members and that makes us feel very warm."

In 2017, SUMEC Marine forged its initial partnership with Cargill in Singapore, earning recognition from the latter through its integrity and cooperative spirit. Since then, SUMEC Marine has practiced the green development philosophy, creating eco-friendly ships and offering personalized, high-quality maritime transportation services to the client. By employing meticulous management to enhance ship operational efficiency, the team has continuously generated value for its client, solidifying and deepening the strategic collaboration with Cargill. In October 2023, Cargill and SUMEC inked a long-term charter agreement for 12 Crown 63 3.0 version vessels at once, further solidifying SUMEC's position in the mid-sized bulk carrier market. Consequently, SUMEC has become the largest carrier of Supramax bulk carriers for Cargill and the second-largest globally.

Over the years, SUMEC has partnered with industry benchmark companies like Cargill, Glencore, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport, and COFCO to seek development through cooperation and mutual benefit, building a trustworthy reputation in the international market. Today, with the delivery and commissioning of one vessel after another, SUMEC's fleet continues to expand, now boasting 39 ships with a collective operational capacity of nearly 2.4 million tons. This young, green, and efficient fleet has become a rising force in global shipping. Time and again, they sail along the millennia-old Maritime Silk Road, leaving behind impressive wakes as a testament to SUMEC's determination in the vast blue ocean.