As of Feb. 26, 2026, the eastern corridor of the China-Europe freight train network has witnessed more than 1,000 train trips on its railway lines this year, breaking the mark 26 days earlier than last year.
Cargo throughput surpassed 100,000 TEUs, with train trips and freight volume rising 48.4 percent and 43.2 percent year on year, respectively.
The eastern corridor consists of three railway ports including Manzhouli, Suifenhe and Tongjiang. The number of operating routes has expanded to 27, linking over 60 Chinese cities with 14 European countries.
To cope with surging cross-border demand, railway authorities have deployed "smart border port" systems and strengthened coordination with customs and border inspection agencies. Clearance procedures have been streamlined to under 30 minutes, boosting overall transport efficiency by around 10 percent.
At Manzhouli Station, operations are running at full capacity.
"We can handle 16 freight trains in 24 hours, totaling over 900 containers. All our six devices run in full capacity every day. Staff work in shifts while equipment runs non-stop. We are committed to keeping processing time for each train within two hours to ensure timely departures," said Yang Liang, a worker from Manzhouli station.
Eastern corridor of China-Europe freight train service witnesses over 1,000 trips in 2026
The U.S. consumer price index (CPI) rose 4.2 percent year on year in May, marking its highest level since May 2023, as energy prices remained high, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.
Notably, the energy index for May increased 3.9 percent month on month, accounting for over 60 percent of headline inflation.
Gasoline and fuel oil prices increased 40.5 percent and 58.9 percent year on year, respectively, in May.
The national average price of gasoline reached 4.555 U.S. dollars per gallon on May 20, a 50 percent rise since the Iran conflict started in February, according to data released by the American Automobile Association. The price later eased to 4.151 dollars per gallon on Wednesday.
The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, increased 2.9 percent year on year in May.
Statistics show that U.S. headline CPI for May rose 0.5 percent month on month, down from 0.6 percent in April, while core CPI increased 0.2 percent, compared with a 0.4 percent gain in April and below the market consensus forecast of 0.3 percent.
The report arrives at a critical juncture for markets and Federal Reserve policymakers. While the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at its June 17 meeting, policymakers acknowledged that the inflation surge caused by the Iran conflict will likely delay any rate reduction. The data are likely to reinforce this stance.
Oil prices rose while U.S. stocks traded lower in the morning session on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran has "taken too long to negotiate a deal" and will "have to pay the price."
U.S. May CPI rises to highest level since May 2023
