Chongqing - In a recent announcement by the National Development and Reform Commission, Chongqing's commercial service-oriented national logistics hub has been selected for construction in 2023.
This marks a significant result for Chongqing as it becomes the first to boast a national logistics hub with five types: water port, dry port, airport, production service, and business service.
Thirty national logistics hubs were selected for the list this time. The selection process focused on enhancing logistics comprehensive services, expanding service network coverage, and stimulating hub economy effects.
Statistics of Chongqing's commercial service-oriented national logistics hub. (Graphics/Chen Zhan)
Leading logistics firms collaborate to build diverse functional areas
This logistics hub is located in the core area of Chongqing Highway Logistics Base, Banan District, featuring an impressive warehouse and trading market covering three million square meters.
Notably, it boasts a substantial cold storage capacity of 663,000 cubic meters, catering to Chongqing's vast wholesale trading market and facilitating high transaction volumes.
With a logistics operation volume of 7.68 million tons in 2022, the hub has received substantial investments totaling 8.712 billion yuan (1.22 billion U.S. dollars), with an additional approximately 1.6 billion yuan earmarked for ongoing and future projects.
Statistics of Chongqing's commercial service-oriented national logistics hub. (Graphics/Chen Zhan)
Chongqing Highway Logistics Base Construction Co., Ltd leads the construction of Chongqing's commercial service-oriented national logistics hub.
Other leading logistics companies such as JD Logistics and SF Express are also involved, aiming to establish diverse functional areas such as intelligent road ports, international business logistics areas, warehousing and distribution zones, China-ASEAN international road ports, etc.
The selection of Chongqing as a national logistics hub is expected to have far-reaching effects. It will significantly elevate the western region's commercial and logistics organization centers, bolstering Chongqing's position as a modern logistics strategic fulcrum city.
Moreover, the hub will enhance Chongqing's commercial and trade reach, catering to the areas along the New International Land-sea Trade Corridor and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. This will provide new impetus to Chongqing's economic growth and generate employment opportunities.
Forecasts indicate that by 2025, the annual freight volume of the logistics hub will surge to 10 million tons. Additionally, the ILSTC will witness over 100 annual rail-sea combined transport trains. At the same time, the number of cross-border highway shuttle buses is set to reach 5,000 trips annually, and the express business volume is projected to exceed 300 million pieces.