Container train from China to Europe - get your quote! (2024)

Cost-Efficient Alternative to Air and Sea Transport

In recent years, the freight rail link between Germany and China has become a smart choice for the time and cost-conscious customers. As China’s economic power increases, German companies choose to open their production facilities there, profiting from the booming Chinese consumer market – this is why rail is so much in demand, being a fast and cost-efficient mode of freight transport. It’s the rail that the customers choose to deliver components and industrial products from Germany to China or back. On top of that, both available rail routes over the Eurasian Land Bridge help serve destinations in Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Ongoing expansion of the rail network in China and further simplification of customs procedures increase the importance of a direct rail link, as the trade between Europe and China develops.

Product Features container train

  • The routes of China – Europe,China – Russia,and also Germany-Japan andGermany – South Korea via Zhengzhou are operated in both directions
  • the cost of cargo train transportation is 50% less than airfreight and the transit time is more than 50% shorter than transport by seafreight
  • transportation cost for EXW to DDU China – Germany (Europe) and back for small LCL (1-4cbm) are comparable with seafreight
  • customs clearance available 24/7 !
  • door to door services & distribution network at in Europe and in China
  • Container types: 20’GP, 20’HQ, 40’GP, 40’HQ, 45’GP, 45′ Reefer Container, Garment hanger container, OT Open-top container
  • safe, stable, nonstop, fast

Currently, four weekly blocktrain services from Duisburg and three weekly services from Hamburg operate to China, in addition to the already mentioned scheduled services from Wackersdorf and Leipzig-Wahren. The new service from the German city of Duisburg runs through Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan to the Chinese Chongqing, one of the largest industrial agglomerations of the country, centrally located in the Sichuan province and offering excellent onward connections.

Container train from China to Europe

Freighttrains cover the 7650 miles long route in 16 to 20 days, while single wagons take 22 to 25 days to arrive at final destination. The train carries up to 100 TEU (20 ft Equivalent Units) and is able to transport 40-ft GPHC containers as well as standard-volume PWHC containers. All containers are equipped with a GPS tracking system and an alarm function. The Combined CIM-SMGC Waybill introduced in 2012 has greatly reduced the administrative burden on businesses.

Freight train from China to Europe

With 16 to 20 days transit time, rail is much faster than the sea transport which takes up to 45 days to China. Rail is more expensive than sea, but is cost-efficient when compared to the air freight. This means that the blocktrain transport is optimally suited for hauling high-value industrial products like vehicles, electronics and IT equipment but also promotional and seasonal goods which need to be at the final destination as quick as possible, but not at any cost.

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container train Blocktrain to Europe

Transit time

  • to Malaszwicze: 10 ~ 13days;
  • to Warsaw: 12 ~ 14 days;
  • to Prague: 16 ~ 18days;
  • to Hamburg : 14 ~ 16days;

Routes

The traditional Northern rail freight route for the most part follows the Trans-Siberian Railway on the Russian soil up to the Zabaikalsk-Manzhouli border crossing point. In China, several transit options are possible: to Beijing or to the sea port of Tianjing. Alternatively, the new Southern routing can be used, dubbed the New Silk Road, which branches off the Transsiberian to the South in Yekaterinburg and then runs through Kazakhstan up to the Chinese border. At the border crossing Dostyk-Alashankou, Chinese Railways takes over the freight transport to the final destination of Chongqing in the Sichuan province, Central China.

History of Rail Freight Transport between Germany and China

The first container train from China had been delivered to Germany back in 1973, following the traditional Transsiberian route. In 2008, a regular container service was introduced between the two countries, but was closed shortly after the financial crisis broke out. In 2010, the Moscovite freight train started servicing the route to Moscow, paving the way for a new regular service to China, and in November 2010, a scheduled freight train from Wackersdorf-Oberpfalz delivered containers of a large German car manufacturer in Shenyang, followed by a freight service from Leipzig-Wahren. Trans Eurasia Logistics GmbH, a joint venture of the Deutsche Bahn AG and the Russian Railways (RZD), was founded in 2008 and acts as a coordinator for the freight rail transport between Europe, Russia and China, ensuring both available routes are sustainably developed and extended along the transit corridor.

Container train from China to Europe - get your quote! (2024)

FAQs

Is there a freight train from China to Europe? ›

Meanwhile, more commodities are flowing between Asia and Europe via the China-Europe freight trains. From 2016 to 2023, the annual number of China-Europe freight train runs rose from 1,702 to more than 17,000, surging nearly 10 times with annual growth rate of 39.5 percent.

How long does it take to get a train from China to Europe? ›

It takes 15 days to 20 days by rail freight from China to Europe, which is much faster than using other methods.

How long does it take a container to get from China to Europe? ›

Plan for transit times between 30 and 45 days when shipping goods from China to Europe. This is because the typical route for container shipping from China to Europe is long — and goes through the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Malacca Strait, and Suez Canal until it reaches its destination.

How much does transportation cost from China to Europe? ›

Rail freight from China to Europe cost

Rail freight will be much more expensive than sea, but still cheaper than air delivery. For the rail delivery of a FCL (Full Container Load) container, you will have to pay from 7000 to 10000 dollars.

Can I travel from China to Europe by train? ›

Is there a train route from Beijing to Europe? For passengers, there is the route Beijing - Ulan Bator - (Transsib) - Moscow, and then change train for one of the connections, for example to Berlin via Belarus and Poland, or to Helsinki via St. Petersburg.

Do freight trains go through customs? ›

All train consists, which include shipper, receiver and travel route information, go through a thorough inspection with Customs Border Patrol (CBP) prior to being allowed to enter the U.S.

How much does it cost to bring a 40 foot container from China to USA? ›

Container shipping rates from China to the USA
Loading PortContainer SizeShipping Coast
From China to Newark, NJ20 – feet container$2,000
From China to Boston40 – feet container$4,500
From China to Providence40 – feet container$4,500
From China to Seattle40 – feet container$3,000
11 more rows

What is the most common shipping route from China to Europe? ›

The Suez Canal Route is the most traditional and popular route between China and Europe, as it passes through the Suez Canal, which connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

How much does it cost to ship a container from China to Germany? ›

Cost of Shipping from China to the Germany For Various Methods (Updated May 2024)
Shipping MethodFrom China to the Germany (Cost)
Sea Shipping (40ft Container)Approx. USD 5,250 for a 40ft container
LCL Sea ShippingApprox. USD 5-10 per cubic meters (m3)
Door-to-door DDP ShippingApprox. USD 3.6 per kgs
4 more rows

What is the best way to ship from China to Europe? ›

Using air freight when shipping from china to Europe is a good substitute for express shipping because you get your goods relatively fast at lower prices. Shipments sent via air freight carriers arrive more quickly than those sent via land or sea, making them ideal for quickly sending smaller, more delicate shipments.

What is the cheapest way to ship internationally from China? ›

Using an international courier, also known as express freight is generally more reliable and quicker than by mail, whether it's DHL, UPS or TNT. As a rule of thumb, at about $5 per kilo, express freight is the cheapest shipping mode for packages or small shipments up to about 150 kg.

What is the cheapest transport from China? ›

A: Sea freight is the most economical way to ship goods from China to India. If you're shipping something bulky, it's much more cost-effective to go with sea freight.

Can you go from Europe to China by train? ›

Train travel

The most usual (and easiest) route from Europe to China is via the classic Trans-Siberian Railway, shown in blue on the map below. But there is another route now open to foreigners, the so-called Silk Route via Kazakhstan, shown on the map in yellow.

Is China building a railroad to Europe? ›

Launched in 2013, the China-Europe Railway Express is an integral part of China's Belt and Road initiative, and over the years, it has expanded its reach to include cities in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Latin America.

What is the fastest way to ship from China to Europe? ›

Express Freight from China to Europe

FedEx, UPS and DHL are the three most popular shipping methods that offer fast Delivery to Europe countries with 3-5days for a small fee of course.

How does China ship to Europe? ›

Most businesses use express shipping from China to Europe if they want the fastest delivery of goods, which prioritizes air freight and a shipping carrier. The most common shipping carriers used for express shipping are UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.

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