A freight train on the New International Land–Sea Trade Corridor in Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)
Chongqing - High-value manufacturing remained central to Chongqing’s strong trade growth via the New International Land–Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) in the first half of 2025, Chongqing Customs District reported.
Cargo volume rose 23% to 132,000 TEUs and trade value climbed 28% to 64.3 billion yuan, driven by exports of over 40,000 vehicles to ASEAN markets, along with electronics, motorcycles, and precision machinery. Vehicle exports alone accounted for nearly one-third of the network’s total export value.
The corridor is driving Chongqing’s trade diversification, with Belt and Road countries making up over 80% of its first-half trade value. Shipments to Europe via the Middle East grew strongly, opening new markets for machinery, chemicals, and consumer goods.
Zhang Hua, General Manager of a Chongqing-based international logistics company, said that diversified routing options “have given exporters greater resilience in the face of shifting global supply chains.”
Agricultural imports stayed strong, with rising demand in Chongqing and other inland markets for fresh fruit, frozen seafood, and other ASEAN-sourced perishables, aided by better cold-chain systems and quicker delivery.
The city is working with other western provinces to boost cargo volumes and expand exports. Guizhou ships tea and liquor to ASEAN, Gansu sends apples and potatoes, Sichuan exports auto parts and equipment, and Yunnan uses cold-chain routes to deliver flowers and fresh produce north.
Under a joint scheduling system, the provinces share train services, coordinate customs clearance, and align timetables to make full use of capacity.
“Shorter transit times and stable schedules have significantly improved our competitiveness in overseas markets,” said Li Wei, Deputy Director of Chongqing Customs. “The corridor is now a core channel for western China’s export industries.”
Multimodal solutions—especially the rail-sea model via Qinzhou Port—remain central to the corridor’s efficiency. New service routes have shortened delivery cycles for key destinations, while expanded cold-chain capacity has enabled long-distance transport of perishable goods without quality loss.
Meanwhile, streamlined customs procedures and cross-border data-sharing platforms have reduced clearance times. Digital tracking systems now provide end-to-end cargo visibility, enabling real-time adjustments to logistics plans.
“We can now ship fresh fruit from ASEAN to Chongqing in under a week, ensuring it reaches consumers at peak quality,” said Chen Min, head of a cold-chain logistics operator along the corridor.
The ILSTC is a multi-modal corridor linking western China with Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond, cutting transit times to key Southeast Asian ports by up to five days. Centered in Chongqing, it connects inland provinces to coastal ports like Qinzhou via rail-sea, rail-road, and river-sea routes, boosting inland China’s export capacity and import diversity.