The Khorgos Port in China's Xinjiang region handled the 90.000th voyage of China-Europe freight trains last Sunday, a milestone that reflects the rapid strengthening of trade across Eurasia and contributes to China's efforts to advance the Belt and Road Initiative.
Rail Developments Stimulating Trade Growth
The ports of Khorgos and Alashankou have achieved great success in recent weeks, accelerating trade flows via rapidly developing railway routes between China and Kazakhstan. According to China Railway Urumqi Group Co., schedules and coordination have been improved in the Xinjiang region railway, and cross-border transactions have been accelerated. Important steps have been taken in this process, such as increasing the number of daily trains and increasing train turnover rates.
Chinese and Kazakhstani railways have strengthened connections to make cross-border movements more efficient. A record 15 broad gauge train pairs per day were reported in March. In addition, daily container swaps at Khorgos station have increased from the previous 10 to 15 batches, keeping trains moving quickly.
Khorgos Port and Security Improvements
Security and operational improvements at the Port of Khorgos have increased container interchange capacity, saving 30 minutes per train. Platform and personnel infrastructure upgrades are expected to provide further capacity increases by 2025. These improvements will enable customs and border control operations to be carried out together, increasing the speed of China-Europe freight trains.
7/24 Operations and Joint Audits
Urumqi Customs continues to accelerate cross-border freight transportation operations with practices such as 7/24 appointments, tax reductions, and joint inspections to ensure efficiency. Xinjiang border teams have strengthened personnel and technological infrastructure to continuously monitor and manage crossings. These measures support the safe and efficient flow of freight trains.
Developments in Trade Routes
Alashankou Port operates 21 freight train routes to 123 countries including Germany, while Khorgos Port connects 18 routes across 46 countries and 87 cities. By 2024, Xinjiang railway ports will have hosted 16.400 freight trains, an increase of 14% from the previous year.
Xinjiang’s ports host more than 10.000 freight trains annually, effectively connecting China’s global trade with Eurasia. Transcontinental rail routes provide low-cost and reliable transportation solutions, making trade faster and more efficient.
Future Growth Expectations
Xinjiang’s railway ports have become a major hub for trade to Europe. These railway connections provide the foundation for global trade and logistics for future economic ties. Experts predict that demand for efficient freight transport will continue to grow. China’s efforts to rapidly expand its intercontinental trade network are part of these achievements, strengthening global economic connections.
