China's rail freight and turnover reached unprecedented levels in June, solidifying the country’s position at the top of global rankings. According to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd, the nation's railways transported a staggering 332 million tonnes of cargo, with a freight turnover of 266.5 billion tonne-kilometers. This marks a 6.1% and 5.3% increase year-on-year, respectively.
The surge was driven by significant growth in key sectors. National rail shipments of containers rose by 18%, automobiles by 12.1%, and cold-chain cargo by an impressive 21.2%, all achieving record highs. Additionally, rail passenger trips in the first half of 2024 hit a historical peak of approximately 2.1 billion, reflecting an 18.4% year-on-year increase.
Cross-border cargo transportation has also experienced rapid expansion, enhancing the stability of international supply chains and boosting China’s foreign trade development. The China-Europe freight train service saw 1,719 trips in June, up 15% from the previous year, and transported 180,000 containers, an 11% increase. This service has already completed over 10,000 trips this year, connecting 224 cities across 25 European countries and more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries, transporting over 50,000 types of goods.
The China-Laos Railway, a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, also contributed significantly, with cross-border cargo shipments reaching 2.783 million tonnes in June, a 20.7% increase year-on-year. These developments underscore China's commitment to high-level opening-up and the continued momentum of its rail infrastructure projects.
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China's rail freight volume, turnover hit record highs in June
cgtn.com
