In the first quarter, the SCO Demonstration Zone saw record-high numbers of China-Europe Railway Express train arrivals and departures, as well as cargo volumes.

April 9, 2026

China Water Transport Network

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In the first quarter of this year, the operation of China-Europe trains in the Shanghai Cooperation Demonstration Zone was outstanding. 253 trains were opened, a year-on-year increase of 2.43 percent, and the freight volume exceeded 170000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 3.10 percent. Both indicators set a record for the same period in history. This achievement is due to the innovation and service optimization of the customs supervision mode: Jiaozhou Customs has introduced the "Shanghai-Shanghai Express" mode to realize the efficient connection of "direct lifting of docks, direct turning of roads and direct sending of railways" for maritime goods, saving 150 yuan in cost per ticket of transit goods and shortening the waiting time in Hong Kong by 1.5 days. At the same time, special service windows and consultation points will be set up to provide one-stop customs clearance guidance for enterprises. At present, the Shanghai Cooperation Demonstration Zone has regularly operated 22 international train lines, covering 54 cities in 23 countries along the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the "the belt and road initiative" route, forming a comprehensive logistics hub connecting Japan and South Korea in the east, Europe and Asia in the west, Mongolia and Russia in the north and ASEAN in the south. Lu Ning, Deputy Commissioner of Jiaozhou Customs, stressed that the China-Europe Express is the key starting point and logistics backbone for the opening up of the demonstration zone. In the future, the customs will continue to improve the channel energy level and service efficiency, help the construction of the national China-Europe Express (Jiqing) assembly center, further smooth the international logistics channel and serve the high-quality development of "the belt and road initiative.

　　On April 8, reporters learned from Qingdao Customs that in the first quarter of this year, the China-Europe freight trains in the SCO Demonstration Zone operated 253 trips, an increase of 2.43% year-on-year, transporting a total weight of over 170,000 tons of goods, an increase of 3.10% year-on-year. Both the number of train arrivals and departures and the freight volume reached a record high for the same period.

　　To focus on the high-quality development needs of the SCO Demonstration Zone and ensure the efficient operation of the freight trains, Jiaozhou Customs has innovated the "SCO Fast Pass" customs supervision model, enabling maritime cargo in the SCO Demonstration Zone to be "directly picked up at the terminal, directly transferred by road, and directly dispatched by rail." Each shipment of transit goods saves 150 yuan in related costs and shortens port waiting time by 1.5 days. Meanwhile, customs continues to optimize service measures, setting up dedicated service windows and consultation points for China-Europe freight trains (SCO Fast Line) to provide enterprises with one-stop, precise customs clearance guidance.

　　As of now, the SCO Demonstration Zone has regularly operated 22 international freight train routes, covering 54 cities in 23 countries of the SCO and the "Belt and Road" initiative, forming a logistics hub network that connects East to Japan and South Korea, West to Eurasia, North to Mongolia and Russia, and South to ASEAN.

　　"The China-Europe freight train is an important tool for the SCO Demonstration Zone's opening to the outside world and a main logistics artery. It is also a core land route for serving the country's 'Belt and Road' initiative and facilitating international logistics corridors," said Lü Ning, Deputy Director of Jiaozhou Customs. Customs will continue to enhance the capacity and service efficiency of the corridor and fully promote the construction of the national-level China-Europe freight train (Jinan-Qingdao) assembly center.

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In the first quarter, the SCO Demonstration Zone saw record-high numbers of China-Europe Railway Express train arrivals and departures, as well as cargo volumes.