The number of freight trains operating between China and Europe has seen steady growth in recent years helping to stabilise the supply chain at times when both air and sea freight is experiencing congestion.

Chinese state media citing the provincial government of east China's Jiangsu said from 2016 to 2021, the number of China-Europe freight trains increased by 55% year on year, with the annual freight volume rising nine times.

As of the end of October this year, 82 China-Europe freight train routes had been launched reaching 204 cities in 24 European countries.

Xinhua said these routes have handled 62,000 freight train trips, transporting 5.76 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of goods.

Currently, five cities in Jiangsu including Nanjing and Lianyungang are operating 23 routes, reaching nearly 80 cities in Europe, Central Asia and Southeast Asia.

It added that from January to November this year, the number of freight train trips between Jiangsu and Europe reached 1,800, up 12% year-on-year.

China-Laos freight train sees increased numbers

Meanwhile, China also saw an increased number of freight trains to Laos.

By the end of November, the customs of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality had launched 263 China-Laos freight trains carrying a total of 5,720 TEUs of containers, with the overall value of cargo exceeding 800 million yuan (about US$113.4 million).

"The regular operation of the China-Laos freight train has opened a more convenient export channel for high-quality products made in Chongqing to enter the ASEAN market," Xinhua said, quoting the New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co., Ltd.

It only takes four to five days to transport these goods via the China-Laos Railway, which saves more than 20 days compared with traditional sea transportation, significantly improving the cargo transportation efficiency from inland China to Southeast Asia.

The China-Laos Railway, which kicked off operations in December 2021, stretches over 1,000 km, linking Kunming, the capital of China's Yunnan Province, with Vientiane in Laos.