July 30, 2026 - Latest statistics released by National Development and Reform Commission illustrate remarkable achievements of China-Europe Railway Express. Up to June 2026, the loaded container ratio of China-Europe freight trains has stayed at 100% for 46 straight months. The total number of trips has exceeded 130,000, transporting goods worth more than 520 billion US dollars to 236 cities across 26 European countries.
The cargo categories carried by cross-border trains have expanded to over 50,000 kinds covering 53 categories. High-value commodities including auto spare parts, machinery equipment and electronic products form major export cargo. The operation balance keeps improving; the ratio of eastbound and westbound trains is close to 1:1, greatly lifting the overall operation efficiency.
The launch of timetable-based scheduled trains greatly optimizes transportation efficiency. The transit time from Xi'an to Duisburg in Germany has been shortened from original 15 days to the fastest 11 days. Stable fixed schedules, all-weather operation and standardized border clearance make railway transport more predictable compared with sea freight which faces blank sailings and port congestion.
Logistics insiders commented that as global merchants start pre-Christmas inventory replenishment, many exporters shift partial cargo from ocean freight to international rail service. Railway transport effectively balances cost and transit speed, helping manufacturers stabilize delivery schedules and strengthen supply chain risk resistance. Freight forwarders remind shippers to arrange booking plans in advance to lock stable rail cabin resources during peak export season.
