1,208 SZ enterprises use Sino-Europe trains

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Sino-Europe trains have handled 49,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) worth US$1.6 billion since the first train was put into operation Aug. 18, 2020. The Sino-Europe train routes have linked Shenzhen with many European countries like Russia, Germany, Poland and Belarus.

A Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Sino-Europe train. File photo

The first (GBA) Sino-Europe freight train from Shenzhen carried industrial products to Duisburg, Germany, in August 2020. Since then, the trains have expanded its routes to 18, with operations going from once a week to thrice a week, data from Shenzhen Customs showed.

In addition, the Sino-Europe freight trains have become a stabilizing factor and accelerator for Guangdong’s trade with European countries. The trains are gaining popularity among exporters in Guangdong because of its more competitive pricing, efficient travel time and logistics compared with air and sea freight. Data showed that over 4,000 enterprises from the Pearl River Delta area, including 1,208 from Shenzhen, have used the freight service, which has become an important passage linking BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) countries.

Shenzhen enterprises accounted for 24.7% of the total train service. Top export products from the GBA include electronic products and high-end household appliances. The trains have played a vital role for GBA enterprises to expand overseas, helping them reduce costs, while ensuring timely and stable delivery and supply chains, according to Shenzhen Customs.