In the first ten months of 2026, China's national railways transported 3.42 billion metric tons of freight, marking a 1.1 percent increase compared to the previous year. This growth is attributed to expanded international freight connections and enhanced multimodal transport services aimed at improving logistics efficiency and supporting trade.
An average of 189,200 freight cars were loaded daily, reflecting a 1.8 percent rise from the previous year, according to China State Railway Group, the national railway operator. International rail freight services continued to grow, bolstering transport links between China and overseas markets.
China-Europe freight trains completed 18,600 trips from January to October, a 14.6 percent increase year-on-year, while China-Central Asia freight trains made 12,100 trips, up 1.9 percent. The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, connecting western China with overseas markets via southern ports, transported over 1.13 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during this period.
Efforts to integrate rail transport with other freight delivery modes have intensified, offering businesses more flexible logistics services. Container shipments through rail-sea intermodal transport rose 8.9 percent year-on-year, while rail-road intermodal freight volume surged 48.4 percent to 385 million tons. The operator expanded customized logistics services, signing 1,675 contracts covering 1.32 billion tons of freight in the first ten months.
Domestic express freight services also experienced significant growth, with 41,900 interregional freight trains operating during this period, up 22.5 percent year-on-year, carrying 45.92 million tons of goods, a 37 percent increase.
The railway network played a crucial role in transporting essential commodities, especially coal and grain. Coal shipments reached 1.75 billion tons, including 1.16 billion tons for power generation. Authorities have strengthened coal transportation from major producing regions to ensure adequate supplies for power plants as northern China enters the winter heating season. Grain shipments exceeded 100 million tons, up 11.7 percent year-on-year, supported by priority transport arrangements.
The railway operator plans to continue enhancing freight services and strengthening logistics connections to help reduce transportation costs and support economic growth.
