Freight trains between Shenzhen and Europe have significantly increased from January to June, potentially due to higher demand and disruptions in ocean and air freight pushing shippers to look for alternative solutions to move their cargo. 

According to Chinese state media, citing Shenzhen Customs, 96 China-Europe freight trains departed from Shenzhen in the first half of 2024, a 34.2% year-on-year increase.

The volume has a cumulative shipment value of 2.74 billion yuan (about US$384.2 million).

In its report, Xinhua said the trains passed through Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, and other European countries and regions, carrying more than 100 types of goods, including electronic products, mechanical equipment and clothing.

"Compared to maritime transport and air transport, China-Europe freight trains are less likely to be affected by nature and have high stability," said  Xu Zhenkang, a Shenzhen Customs official, as cited by Xinhua. "They are very attractive to companies seeking to deliver products with certain volumes and high requirements for transport timeliness."

The report mentioned that Shenzhen Customs has a wide range of export product categories, including high-value-added and high-tech goods such as electronic products and robots, as well as household goods, and machinery and equipment.

Chinese firms have also made strides in the export of electronic appliances, digital products and other goods from Shenzhen aboard the China-Europe freight trains.

Increasing numbers of goods from the Pearl River Delta region, including Foshan and Zhongshan Cities, have also been sent to Shenzhen to export on freight trains.

"China-Europe freight trains have become an important bridge connecting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with Europe," Xu said. "Since the beginning of this year, we have supported train operators to relaunch a Shenzhen-Budapest route so that enterprises can expand their markets and usher in more opportunities."

Data shows that in the first half of 2024, Shenzhen's imports and exports totalled 2.2 trillion yuan, a 31.7% year-on-year increase. This set a record high for the same period and accounted for 10.4% of the national total.

Shenzhen is a global hub for high-tech design and manufacturing. It is also known as "the world's factory" because it is reported that 90% of the world's electronics come from Shenzhen, including toys, televisions, air conditioning units, mobile phones and drones, among others.