Lidl Stiftung, the German retail giant, is strengthening its container transport capabilities by sea and rail through its subsidiaries Tailwind Shipping Lines and Tailwind Intermodal. On September 2, 2024, the maritime company christened its ninth container ship, Panda 004, in Moerdijk, the Netherlands. This 1,400 TEU feeder vessel will operate alongside its sister ship, Panda 003, on the weekly Dolphin Express (Dex) service, connecting Barcelona and Moerdijk. Barcelona also serves as a stop for the company's Panda Express (Pax) service, which links China with Europe.
Two years after its inception, Tailwind Shipping Lines now operates a fleet of nine container ships with a total capacity of 40,000 TEU, offering services to third-party clients who require fast shipping times between Asia and Europe. "For both Lidl, our main customer, and other clients, Moerdijk is ideally positioned for delivering goods to Northwestern Europe. As a hub, it also provides an attractive alternative for transporting goods across Europe via truck," explained Christian Stangl, CEO of Tailwind Shipping Lines.
Like the Panda 003, the Panda 004 was built in China for the Elbdeich shipping company by Penglai Zhongbai Jinglu Shipbuilding. Tailwind Shipping Lines has leased the ship on a long-term basis. Measuring 169.90 meters in length and 26.90 meters in width, the vessel accommodates both short-range and large intermodal containers. Additionally, it has space for up to 378 refrigerated containers.
Lidl’s involvement is not limited to maritime transport. Through its Austrian subsidiary, Tailwind Intermodal—founded in Graz in early 2024—the company has initiated rail transport from the Slovenian port of Koper, which is a stop on the Asia-Europe Panda Express service. The company operates the Panther Shuttle, offering five weekly trips between the Slovenian terminal and Cargo Center Graz, where goods are palletized and forwarded to other European destinations. The first train arrived in Graz on September 3, 2024.
