Chinese rail freight posts record one billion quarterly tonnes

The Chinese state-owned rail operator Chinese State Railway Group (CSRG) has grown its quarterly freight volumes to a new record high. In the third quarter of 2024, the company transported more than the milestone number of a billion tonnes of freight. On top of that, China – Europe traffic has grown by over 10 per cent during the first nine months of the year.

The billion tonnes of freight marks a 3,8 per cent year-on-year growth in China’s volumes. More than half of the number is attributable to coal transportation, which accounted for 520 million tonnes in total. Containerised freight grew by 17,8 per cent, and amounted to 9,6 million TEU during Q3.

CSRG’s growing volumes are partially thanks to Russia’s effort to pour more of its exports into China. As exports to Europe have dwindled in recent years due to sanctions, the country has been reorienting its trade to the east, boosting demand for rail freight transportation in Russia’s Far East and China.

China – Europe

Nevertheless, Chinese goods still find their way to Europe, both through Russia as well as down the Middle Corridor. Between January and September of 2024, CSRG ran nearly 15,000 China – Europe trains, which represents a growth of 13 per cent compared to the same period of 2023, the Chinese operator says. Since January, the number of China – Europe freight trains has exceeded 1,600 for seven months in a row. The company took 1,57 million TEU worth of freight in the European direction, which marks a growth of 11 per cent year-on-year.

European Silk Road Summit 2024

Asia – Europe rail freight is one of the key topics to be discussed at the European Silk Road Summit 2024, taking place in Vienna on 27-28 November.

Registrations for the yearly event are already open, while the programme, which this year highlights the fast-recovering China-Europe rail market, is shaping up.