Horgos, a major inland trade port between northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and other member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), has witnessed over 6,600 China-Europe (China-Central Asia) freight train crossings so far this year, a year-on-year increase of 21.8 percent, according to official data.
The surge underscores the port's critical role in ensuring the safe and unimpeded flow of industrial and supply chains among SCO member states.
"China-Europe (China-Central Asia) freight trains bound for SCO countries carry a wide variety of goods, ranging from large items such as building materials, agricultural machinery, and finished vehicles, to smaller products like clothing, footwear, hats, cosmetics, and electronic components. Our company has handled over 2,000 China-Europe (China-Central Asia) freight trains so far this year, a 20-percent increase compared to the same period last year," said Wukulai Kadeali, a business manager at a freight forwarding company in Horgos.
Since the launch of the "smart railway port plus fast clearance" initiative earlier this year, Horgos has dramatically streamlined customs procedures.
The clearance time for imported goods at the port has been reduced from two to three days to within 16 hours, down 70 percent. The processing time for exported goods has been cut from six hours to one hour, a reduction of 80 percent.
"We have prioritized reloading, marshaling, and dispatch for inbound and outbound China-Europe (China-Central Asia) freight trains. Meanwhile, we have actively coordinated with Kazakhstan to strengthen the handover of full-container cargoes, promoting a steady growth in the number of trains exchanged at our port. On average, 28 trains are exchanged at our port daily, with a peak reaching 36 trains," said Zhang Dongchang, a dispatcher at the safe production command center of the Horgos railway station.
To support uninterrupted operations, Horgos customs authorities offer round-the-clock clearance services, ensuring that freight trains can depart and arrive at any time without delay.
Since 2016, more than 48,000 China-Europe (China-Central Asia) freight trains have passed through the port. The total number of rail routes operating through the port has reached 90, connecting to 46 cities and regions in 18 countries.
Today, the Horgos port stands as a pivotal "golden passage" in international overland logistics.
China's Horgos port ensures smooth cargo flow among SCO countries
