Chongqing- Chongqing's container transport market remained stable in the first half of 2025, effectively supporting the city's export-oriented economy, according to a semi-annual analysis recently released by local government.

The vehicles made by Chongqing-based Chang'an Automobile arrive at Qinzhou Port via JSQ freight vehicle and are awaiting shipment. (Photo/New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co., Ltd.)

Chongqing, strategically positioned in southwest China, sits at the intersection of China's transport corridors, including the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), China-Europe freight train, and the Yangtze River Golden Waterway.

The report, compiled by the Port and Logistics Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government, shows that the Chongqing Corridor Price Index started at 1212.7 points in January and closed at 1121.1 points in June, marking a price fluctuation of 18.0% over six months. By comparison, the Shanghai Export Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) experienced a much larger fluctuation of 93.8% during the same period. 

Despite ongoing international trade frictions, Chongqing's transport market achieved overall stability. The city's three major transport corridors complemented each other, helping to mitigate freight rate volatility and maintain balanced market operations.

Breaking down the performance by quarter, the report notes that in the first quarter, Chongqing's transport sector faced the typical off-season, with declining demand leading to a gradual drop in freight rates across all three corridors. However, in the second quarter, market conditions improved. Boosted by favorable U.S. tariff policies mid-quarter, transport demand rose sharply, pushing the corridor price index upward through the end of June.

In addition to pricing, the report highlights improvements in logistics efficiency. The Corridor Timeliness Index rose steadily from 974.0 in January to 1125.3 in June. The half-year average reached 1051.5, marking a 12.1% increase from the same period in 2024 (937.8) and a 7.4% rise from the latter half of 2024 (979.6). This trend reflects the ongoing optimization of Chongqing's overall transport efficiency.

The report also details the Yangtze River Golden Waterway Freight Competitiveness Index, which exhibited a fluctuating recovery. Starting at 1143.0 in January, it dipped to 894.9 in March due to global economic pressures and U.S.-China trade tensions. However, from April onward, the index began to rebound, reaching 1104.4 in June. The average for the first half of 2025 was 1000.2, down 3.0% from H1 2024 (1031.6) and down 13.2% from H2 2024 (1152.2). 

Focusing on June, the analysis reveals continued positive momentum. The Chongqing Corridor Price Index rose to 1121.1 points, a 1.7% month-on-month increase. All three major transport corridors saw price increases.

The ILSTC Price Index stood at 1022.1, up 0.1%. Its rail-sea intermodal freight index rose to 1097.2 (+0.2%). Rates to ASEAN and Northeast Asia dropped slightly due to ample capacity, while growing demand to India, Pakistan, and Africa led to higher rates. Prices for international trains and cross-border road transport remained stable.

The Yangtze River Golden Waterway Price Index climbed to 1162.6 (+3.9%). Despite rising capacity to the U.S., limited demand led to price declines, with the West Coast index at 883.2 (-27.2%) and the East Coast at 917.8 (-6.5%).

The China-Europe Freight Train Corridor Price Index edged up to 1164.9 (+0.3%). The Russian sub-index was 1124.4 (+0.5%), while the European sub-index was 1205.5 (+0.1%), both showing stable demand.

Accompanying the price gains, transport efficiency also improved in June. The Chongqing Corridor Timeliness Index reached 1125.3, a 1.8% rise from May, continuing its upward trend. Specifically, the ILSTC rose to 1166.1 (+1.5%) due to wider adoption of fast-track customs clearance for international trains. The China-Europe freight train remained steady at 923.4 (-0.4%), while the Yangtze River Golden Waterway improved to 1246.0 (+3.4%), indicating faster waterborne logistics.