Maersk pioneers first block train from Vietnam to Europe for Decathlon

August 2, 2021: Maersk’s first dedicated block train from Vietnam to Europe left Hanoi station with twenty-three 40-foot containers are on their way to Zhengzhou, China, and from there go to Liège, Belgium directly carrying the latest products for Decathlon, one of the world's largest sporting goods retailers.

All cargoes will be transported by trucks to their final destination in Dourges and Rouvignies, France by the end of August.

Philippe Dunand, Maersk global account director for Decathlon, said, “This first block train from Vietnam to Europe for Decathlon will not only achieve reliable lead times but also provide our customer with improved visibility. This service is also driving synergies between intermodal and rail transport.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions to many industries and the global supply chain. However, for the sportswear industry, it is thriving as consumers continue to spend time exercising, as outdoor individual sports and home workouts both see increased participation. Massive orders are piling up at Vietnam’s manufacturers, leading to a lack of space to store products.

Lionel Adenot, Decathlon Vietnam country leader, said, “The Covid-19 pandemic is a challenging context but also an opportunity to prove our agility in supply chain management. Readiness to try new solutions with a can-do mindset makes us proud to bring happiness to all sport users.
Maersk’s dedicated block train service for Decathlon can be traced back to 2017, the first departure from China. Since then, the company continues scaling up the intercontinental rail service to meet the growing demand of all customers. In fact, our train services between Asia and Europe serve 30 different countries across multiple routes both east and westbound.

Rossie Hong Nguyen, lifestyle and retail client manager, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar Area at Maersk, said, “There are a container shortage, limited space in the warehouse, and ocean capacity constraints on the services network. In our constant effort to cater for Decathlon’ specific needs, we are integrating various transport modes to provide agility and flexibility as well as reliability to transport their products. We are currently working on arranging three more block trains to Europe in the following quarter.”

Diep Nguyen, Vietnam logistics leader at Decathlon, said, Maersk’s dependability, along with their familiarity with our products and our needs, has proven invaluable. With the block train, we get a totally new transport solution that is efficient, reliable and with a lower impact on the environment. A good alternative solution comes up in the turbulent and pressure period of the traditional transport market.