In June, the amount of trains on the China – Europe route grew by 15 per cent year-on-year. The increase in traffic coincides with a new freight turnover record in China at 266,5 billion tonne-kilometres.

In June 2024, 1719 trains travelled on the China – Europe route, which is a growth of 15 per cent compared to the same period last year. Approximately 180,000 containers were shipped on the route in the first half year of 2024, which is a growth of 11 per cent.

These figures include services to both European and Asian destinations. According to a Chinese source, 224 cities in 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries were serviced by the China – Europe route.

China – Europe route important for supply chains

China’s railway operator says that the China – Europe route is important for international supply chains. Cross-border freight transportation ensures “the stability of international supply chains and injects a new impetus into China’s foreign trade development and high-level opening up”, it comments.

In total, China’s railways transported 332 million tonnes of cargo in June, up by 6,1 per cent from last year. The 266,5 billion tonne-kilometres in freight turnover amounts to a growth of 5,3 per cent.

Shipments of containers, automobiles and cold-chain cargo increased by 18 per cent, 12.1 per cent and 21.2 per cent respectively. All recorded new volume records.