China-Europe freight train trips surpass 90,000, energizing high-quality BRI development
25th May 2024 – (Xi’an) A train loaded with a diverse range of goods set off from Xi’an, the capital city of China’s Shaanxi Province, on Saturday morning, embarking on a journey to Malaszewicze, Poland. This milestone departure signifies that the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has now exceeded 90,000.
To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million TEUs (20FT equivalent unit) of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.
From 2016 to 2023, the annual number of China-Europe freight train trips surged from 1,702 to over 17,000. The value of goods transported by this service skyrocketed from $8 billion in 2016 to $56.7 billion in 2023.
The kinds of goods transported via the China-Europe freight trains have expanded from IT products such as laptops and printers at the beginning to over 50,000 different types, including clothing and footwear, automobiles and parts, daily necessities, food, timber, furniture, chemicals and machinery.
“Compared with the 45-day journey by sea, China-Europe freight trains need only 15 to 20 days to reach their destination and at lower costs. The most important is that the Express can ensure the safety of merchants,” Chen Zhao, general manager of Shaanxi Konka Intelligent Home Appliances Company.
China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. noted that there has been a notable increase in the transportation of Chinese-made “tech-intensive green trio” products since 2023. This trio includes lithium-ion batteries, photovoltaic products, and new energy vehicles (NEVs). The rise in their transport reflects the strong market demand for these environmentally friendly and innovative products.
The China-Europe freight trains have established an extensive reach, connecting 223 cities in 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries.With the service network covering almost the entire Eurasian continent.
