Austrian Logistics Outfit Offers Europe ASEAN Intermodal Links

EUROPE – ASIA – Following our coverage a year ago of logistics group cargo-partner's intermodal service between Europe and China, the Austrian company has revealed more details of its service offering which is based on a rail and ocean interchange.

The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor forms part of China’s comprehensive Belt and Road Initiative and was launched in cooperation with member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2017. This has opened up a range of Asian destinations and the rail transport hub of Chongqing in southwest China forges a link between the country’s western provinces to and from numerous destinations in Asia and Europe.

For exports from the region, cargo-partner says freight can be picked up from 13 hinterland provinces and transported by rail via Chongqing to ports in the south of China, such as Qinzhou. Daily railway services connect Chongqing to Qinzhou with transit times of around 36 hours. From there, shipments are forwarded by sea to numerous other ports worldwide. Stefan Krauter, CEO of cargo-partner, sees great potential in this region:

“With China’s ambitious development plans for its western provinces, the country has made major investments into the infrastructure of this up-and-coming region. Initiatives like the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor not only give a boost to trade relations between China and its neighbouring countries, but also offer favourable logistics solutions for exports to Europe. We are glad to provide our customers with a fast and cost-effective solution for their transports to and from the Chinese hinterland.”

By making use of the rail connection via Chongqing, cargo-partner says it can offer significant time and cost advantages compared to pre-carriage from western China by truck or barge. Depending on the route, door-to-port transit times by rail are at least 7 to 10 days shorter than by barge, at only around 30 to 50% of the cost of road transport and the company’s network of own offices throughout Asia and Europe can offer door-to-door solutions.