With a resounding train whistle, a freight train carrying over 260 new energy vehicles (NEVs) set off from Horgos Port in northwest China, embarking on its journey to Uzbekistan.
In the first half of this year, Horgos Port in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region facilitated the export of 18,000 NEVs, a remarkable 3.9-fold increase compared to the previous year, predominantly through China-Europe freight trains, according to Horgos Customs.
Li Ruikang, manager of Sino-Worlink Special Cargo Railway Logistics Co., Ltd., expressed that the China-Europe freight train has opened up new avenues for automobile exports. Notably, 25 percent of their exported vehicles rely on railway transportation due to the efficient customs clearance process offered by the China-Europe freight train.
Customs clearance measures tailored to vehicle type, weight, dimensions, and other details have been established by Horgos Customs, significantly reducing clearance time and lowering costs for car manufacturers.
The majority of automobiles transported through Horgos Port, a key land transport gateway connecting China to Central Asia and Europe, originate from provincial-level regions like Chongqing, Sichuan, and Guangdong, destined for Belt and Road countries such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Since its inception in 2011, the China-Europe freight train service has emerged as a secure and reliable channel between Asia and Europe, facilitating the transportation of various goods, including IT products, automobiles, wines, and coffee beans.
Given its stable and efficient transportation environment, multiple routes, and stops, an increasing number of NEV exporters are now opting for the China-Europe freight train service, as highlighted by Lyu Wangsheng, an official from Horgos Customs.
In a recent development, a notable freight train carrying 50 NEVs departed from Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, for Europe. It marked the first exclusive China-Europe freight train departing from Guangdong Province for Chinese-made NEVs. To ensure smooth logistics and supply chains, Guangzhou Customs has established a green channel for NEV exports.
As countries worldwide embrace policies to combat carbon emissions and address energy crises, the adoption of NEVs is gaining momentum. Benefiting from its industrial chain advantages, China’s export of new energy vehicles witnessed significant growth, with data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showing a 160 percent expansion in NEV exports to 534,000 units in the first half of 2023, compared to the previous year.
