On 29 September 2005, CKYH launched a new Middle East service SMX (South China Middle East Express) at Yantian. The new service berths at six key ports in South China and the Middle East with a rotation at Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Yantian, Singapore, Dubai, Bandar Abbas, Singapore and Kaohsiung.
COSCO, "K" Line, and Hanjin have deployed four vessels in the service. Since Dubai and Bandar Abbas are important ports in the Middle East, SMX provides shipping services for trade between South China and the region. It takes 11 days to ship cargo from South China to Dubai, making SMX one of the fastest services in the market.