Chongqing—From January to May 2025, Chongqing's ports handled 10.7 million tons of rail-water intermodal cargo, marking a 19.6% year-on-year increase, according to data from Chongqing Logistics Group on June 29. The figure accounts for 32% of the city's total port throughput during the period.
Chongqing Logistics Group also noted that the growth comes as the inland municipality strengthens its role in China's international logistics network, enhancing supply chain resilience and promoting regional connectivity.
On June 15, 2024, the Chongqing–Duisburg China-Europe Railway Express full-schedule train achieved two-way connectivity.
Chongqing has expanded its reach across Southeast Asia and Europe through new routes along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC). Notable additions include direct lines from Chongqing to Selangor (Malaysia), Jakarta (Indonesia), and Mandalay (Myanmar), as well as rail links to Barcelona (Spain), Tilburg (Netherlands), and Hairaton (Afghanistan). Routes across the China-Europe corridor via Turkey have also been introduced.
Additionally, an innovative express intermodal train linking Germany, Chongqing, and ASEAN countries such as Thailand and Vietnam has boosted transport efficiency by over 50% compared to traditional sea routes. New multimodal routes, such as the Thailand/Vietnam-Chongqing-Germany line, have enhanced integration between China-Europe Railway Express and the ILSTC, improving delivery times by around 30%.
In March 2025, the city piloted a new river-sea direct shipping model on the Chongqing-Ningbo Zhoushan Port line. This model allows upstream cargo to be loaded mid-route and shipped directly to Zhoushan, improving vessel space utilization and efficiency.
The Chongqing-Ningbo Zhoushan Port river-sea direct vessel docks at Huangqi Port Terminal in Fuling District, Chongqing. (Chongqing Logistics Group)
In March 2025, the city piloted a new river-sea direct shipping model on the Chongqing-Ningbo Zhoushan Port line. This model allows upstream cargo to be loaded mid-route and shipped directly to Zhoushan, improving vessel space utilization and efficiency.
Chongqing Logistics Group also launched a Ro-Ro logistics smart platform for commercial vehicles on June 27. The platform offers one-stop customs clearance, real-time tracking, and on-site export tax rebates, enhancing capital turnover by over 20%.
The city is also promoting "bulk to container" transitions and has developed a regional rail-water network reaching Sichuan, Guizhou, Shanxi, Gansu, and Xinjiang. From January to May, Chongqing completed 10.69 million tons in rail freight volume, a 19.6% increase, including 32,000 TEU in container intermodal transport- a 92.6% year-on-year rise.