A GBA Sino-Europe freight train, packed with containers of goods, sets off from Shenzhen on July 1, 2021. Since the first train was put into operation Aug. 18, 2020, a total of 221 trips, or 10,654 carriages, had transported cargoes worth 6.1 billion yuan (US$898.05 million).
The GBA Sino-Europe trains have carried 127,000 tons of cargoes traveling between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and European countries via its 13 routes over the past two years.
Since the first train was put into operation Aug. 18, 2020, a total of 221 trips, or 10,654 carriages, had carried cargoes worth 6.1 billion yuan (US$898.05 million), providing reliable and stable service for over 3,000 enterprises from Shenzhen and other Pearl River Delta cities, data from Shenzhen Customs showed.
The Sino-Europe freight trains have become a stabilizer and an accelerator for trade between Guangdong and European countries, according to the customs. Cross-continent rail transportation, with its cost competitiveness in terms of time and logistics, is gaining popularity among Guangdong exporters.
High-quality and high-end electronic products and household appliances have been sent to European countries through this service.
“Through this service, enterprises can reduce costs and ensure the stability of their logistics and supply chains. The trains play a vital role for GBA enterprises to expand to the overseas market,” Ye Dan, a senior director of Shenzhen Neptune Logistics Group’s procurement center, said at an interview.
At a news conference in Beijing on Thursday, the National Development and Reform Commission said that the Sino-Europe freight trains have played a key role in strengthening international economic and trade ties.
As of the end of July, a total of over 57,000 Sino-Europe freight train trips were made, carrying 5.3 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of goods worth nearly US$300 billion. The trains reached 196 cities in 24 countries in Europe.
A report released by the office of the leading group on advancing Belt and Road development and China State Railway Group Co. Ltd. showed that the train service improved regional opening up, expanded economic and trade exchanges, deepened international industrial cooperation and facilitated improving people’s well-being in countries along the routes.
The latest data showed the number of train trips in July surged by 11% year on year, hitting a record high of 1,517.