Chongqing - Chongqing moved 154,600 TEUs of cargo worth 28.33 billion yuan (approx. 3.95 billion USD) via the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) in H1 2025, up 28% and 22% year-on-year, respectively, according to official data released recently.

Chongqing's Guoyuan Port, a key port of the ILSTC, is bustling with activity. (Photo/Wang Jiaxi)

The ILSTC, a key trade route linking Western China to ASEAN nations like Singapore, saw strong performance in H1 2025 across Chongqing’s three main transport models: rail-sea intermodal services, international rail, and cross-border highway freight—all boosting regional connectivity and trade.

Rail-sea intermodal services have seen improvements in both efficiency and service. According to Xinhua Finance, Li Yan, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Port and Logistics Office, the average total transit time to Singapore has been reduced from 20 days to 10 days. Meanwhile, a broader variety of imported ASEAN fruits, such as coconuts and bananas, is now available, offering consumers more options.

Rail-sea intermodal trains now increasingly use JSQ flatcars, a specialized railroad freight car designed and used exclusively in China's railway system for the transportation of automobiles. In March, a JSQ-specialized freight train carrying 200 vehicles from Changan Automobile, an automaker in Chongqing, departed from Chongqing’s Yuzui Station. The shipment traveled via the ILSTC to Qinzhou Port in Guangxi, where workers transferred the vehicles to a dedicated ro-ro ship bound for Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, UAE.

A representative from New Land-Sea Corridor Operations Co., Ltd. highlighted that JSQ flatcars, with reinforced structures and faster unloading capabilities, streamline transport by allowing vehicles to be moved directly onto dedicated roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ships without disassembly. This model boosts efficiency by over 10–15% and reduces costs by more than 8%.

International rail transport is gaining momentum along the ILSTC, driven by intermodal innovation. In June, a China-Europe Railway Express (Yuxinou) train carrying baby products, cosmetics, and medical supplies departed Duisburg for Chongqing, then continued to Vietnam via corridor rail—marking the first return trip of the “ASEAN Express” and the start of full two-way operations.

The “ASEAN Express” is a jointly operated logistics model developed by the platform companies behind the ILSTC and the China-Europe Railway Express (Yuxinou). By consolidating resources, the model enables customers to access services from both platforms with a single contract, streamlining the cross-border process between ASEAN and Europe.

As of June, the “ASEAN Express” had moved goods worth over 2 billion yuan and now runs three routes—Duisburg–Chongqing–Laos/Vietnam/Thailand. Carrying high-value cargo such as vehicles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals, the service cuts transit times by 50% compared to traditional sea shipping.

At Chongqing's Guoyuan Port, vehicles await container loading for overseas shipment. (Photo/Wang Jiaxi)