China-Europe freight train services departing from the Yangtze River Delta region rose more than 20 percent year-on-year in the first two months of 2026, according to the China Railway Shanghai Group.

A total of 525 China-Europe freight train trips were launched from the region in January and February, transporting 55,000 twenty-foot equivalent units of cargo to destinations across Europe and Central Asia, according to the group.

The trains carried a wide range of goods, including complete vehicles, auto parts, and daily consumer products, to countries along the routes, facilitating cross-border trade while contributing to industrial development and economic growth along the corridor.

Since its launch in 2013, the China-Europe freight train services have expanded from one route to 15, reaching 36 countries across Europe and Asia.

Transport efficiency has continued to improve. By the end of 2025, freight trains from the YRD region could reach Astana in Kazakhstan in nine days, and Hamburg in Germany in 15 days.

The journey time of the trains is roughly one-third that of maritime transport, while costs are about one-fifth of air freight, making the service an attractive option for exporters and importers.

The growing cost-effectiveness has also diversified cargo categories. In addition to traditional exports such as small commodities and electronics, shipments now include textiles, automobiles and parts, machinery, and furniture.

The region has developed distinct cargo patterns for outbound trains. Yiwu in Zhejiang province primarily exports small commodities to European markets, while Suzhou in Jiangsu province sends electronics and electrical appliances to destinations such as Hamburg and Warsaw. Hefei in Anhui province primarily ships household appliances and mechanical equipment to Germany.

Return trains bring high-quality goods from Eurasian countries, including food, clothing, cosmetics, timber, and mineral products, to China.

By the end of 2025, the YRD region had operated more than 32,000 China-Europe freight trains.

Source: Shanghai Observer