Amazon FBA from China
As a global manufacturing center, China provides a rich source of goods, and rail transportation has gradually become an important mode of transportation connecting China with Europe, Asia and other regions due to its fast, stable and cost-effective characteristics. Especially driven by the China-Europe Express, rail freight has become an emerging trend in cross-border logistics, and more and more cross-border e-commerce and cargo traders choose rail transportation to meet their needs.
The main advantages of rail freight are its good timeliness and relatively low transportation costs. Compared with traditional sea transportation, rail freight transportation time is usually shorter, which is suitable for goods with higher timeliness requirements; and compared with air transportation, rail transportation costs are more economical. Whether it is bulk commodities, machinery and equipment, or small and medium-sized e-commerce products, rail transportation can provide flexible solutions to meet the needs of different customers.
Table of Contents
What is rail freight?
Rail freight refers to a logistics method of transporting bulk goods through a railway network, usually involving long-distance transportation. Compared with sea and air transportation, rail freight has certain advantages in terms of cost and transportation time. Especially between Asia and Europe, rail transportation has become an important bridge connecting East-West trade.
In recent years, China’s “Belt and Road” initiative has promoted the development of rail freight, making this mode of transportation gradually favored by more cross-border e-commerce and bulk commodity traders.
Why choose rail freight from China?
1 Cost-effectiveness
Rail freight has lower transportation costs than air freight and is an affordable option for long-distance transportation. Compared with sea freight, rail freight has more advantages in timeliness, especially for goods that need to be transported in a shorter time. For goods that need to be transported across long distances, rail provides a good balance between cost and timeliness.
2 Better timeliness than sea freight
Rail freight usually has a clear advantage in timeliness compared to sea freight. Taking the China-Europe Express as an example, the rail transportation time from China to Europe is usually 10 to 15 days, while sea freight may take 30 days or more. For goods with high timeliness requirements, rail freight is undoubtedly a more attractive option.
3 Environmental protection and sustainability
Rail freight has lower carbon emissions than air and road transport and is a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation. With the global attention to environmental protection and sustainable development, rail transportation has gradually become a green logistics option advocated by governments and enterprises.
Main routes and networks for rail freight
China’s rail freight network is expanding, and there are already several important international rail freight routes, the most well-known of which is the China-Europe Express.
The China-Europe Express is an important logistics channel connecting China to Europe by rail, covering transportation services from major cities in China to many European countries such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Russia. In addition to the China-Europe Express, there are other routes such as the Central Asia Express and the China-Russia Express, covering many countries in Asia. With the advancement of the “Belt and Road” initiative, more international rail freight routes are being opened and the coverage of rail freight is also expanding.
Railway freight routes from China to Europe
| Route | Major Stations |
|---|---|
| Chengdu to Lodz (Poland) | Chengdu → Xi’an → Lanzhou → Urumqi → Alashankou → Dostyk (Kazakhstan) → Moscow (Russia) → Brest (Belarus) → Warsaw → Lodz |
| Yiwu to Madrid (Spain) | Yiwu → Zhengzhou → Xian → Urumqi → Alashankou → Dostyk (Kazakhstan) → Moscow (Russia) → Minsk (Belarus) → Warsaw (Poland) → Hamburg (Germany) → Duisburg → Madrid |
| Chongqing to Duisburg (Germany) | Chongqing → Zhengzhou → Xian → Lanzhou → Urumqi → Alashankou → Dostyk (Kazakhstan) → Moscow (Russia) → Minsk (Belarus) → Warsaw (Poland) → Duisburg |
| Zhengzhou to Hamburg (Germany) | Zhengzhou → Xian → Lanzhou → Urumqi → Alashankou → Dostyk (Kazakhstan) → Moscow (Russia) → Minsk (Belarus) → Warsaw (Poland) → Hamburg |
| Wuhan to Lyon (France) | Wuhan → Zhengzhou → Xian → Urumqi → Alashankou → Dostyk (Kazakhstan) → Moscow (Russia) → Minsk (Belarus) → Warsaw (Poland) → Duisburg (Germany) → Lyon |
Railway freight routes from China to Russia
| Route | Major Stations |
|---|---|
| Chengdu to Moscow | Chengdu → Xi’an → Lanzhou → Urumqi → Alashankou → Dostyk (Kazakhstan) → Yekaterinburg (Russia) → Moscow |
| Yiwu to Saint Petersburg | Yiwu → Zhengzhou → Xian → Urumqi → Alashankou → Dostyk (Kazakhstan) → Moscow → Saint Petersburg |
| Harbin to Vladivostok | Harbin → Suifenhe → Ussuriysk (Russia) → Vladivostok |
| Chongqing to Novosibirsk | Chongqing → Zhengzhou → Xian → Lanzhou → Urumqi → Alashankou → Dostyk (Kazakhstan) → Novosibirsk (Russia) |
Applicable cargo types for rail freight
Rail freight is usually suitable for transporting bulk commodities, machinery and equipment, electronic products, household goods and other large or heavy goods. Especially for heavy, durable and non-perishable goods, rail transportation provides a more ideal choice. At the same time, rail transportation is also suitable for goods with high non-timeliness requirements.
- Heavy and bulk commodities
For example, for bulk commodities such as minerals, steel, and coal, rail transportation can carry out large-scale transportation at a lower cost to meet the bulk logistics needs in the supply chain. - E-commerce goods and consumer goods
For e-commerce sellers, rail freight provides an economical and efficient solution for medium and long-term shipments. Especially for small and medium-sized batches of goods, rail transportation can balance cost and timeliness.
Operational procedures for railway freight from China to European countries
- Cargo preparation and packaging
Before railway transportation, the goods need to be packaged according to the standards of railway transportation. Railway freight has high requirements for packaging to ensure that the goods will not be damaged during long-term, cross-border transportation. Usually, sellers need to provide a detailed list of goods to ensure that the goods meet the transportation conditions. - Submit transportation application and confirmation
After determining the cargo specifications and transportation plan, the seller needs to submit a transportation application to the railway transportation company or third-party logistics company and confirm the transportation details, including the departure station, destination station, transportation time, etc. - Shipping and transportation management
After the goods are loaded onto the railway wagon, the transportation company will be responsible for the transportation arrangement and dispatch of the goods to ensure that the goods arrive at the destination as planned. During the transportation process, the seller can keep abreast of the transportation status of the goods through the real-time tracking system provided by the logistics company. - Customs clearance and delivery
Once the goods arrive at the destination country, the railway transportation company will assist the seller in customs clearance at the destination. After customs clearance, the goods will be sent to the final destination or designated warehouse. Sellers can choose to pick up the goods by themselves or have the final delivery service provided by the logistics company.
Cost of rail freight from China to European countries
| Route | Cost (USD per 40ft Container) |
|---|---|
| Chengdu to Lodz (Poland) | $5,000 – $7,000 |
| Yiwu to Madrid (Spain) | $6,500 – $7,500 |
| Chongqing to Duisburg (Germany) | $5,500 – $6,500 |
| Zhengzhou to Hamburg (Germany) | $5,500 – $6,500 |
| Wuhan to Lyon (France) | $6,000 – $7,500 |
| Chengdu to Moscow (Russia) | $6,000 – $7,500 |
Cost structure of rail freight
The cost structure of rail freight is relatively complex and usually includes the following items:
- Transportation cost: This is the main cost of rail freight, calculated based on the transportation distance, weight and volume of the goods.
- Customs clearance cost: In international transportation, customs clearance is an inevitable part, involving customs declaration, tariffs and other costs.
- Storage cost: During transportation, the goods may need to be stored at certain transit stations, so storage costs will be incurred.
- Insurance cost: Although the risk of rail transportation is lower, it is recommended to purchase transportation insurance to ensure the safety of the goods.
How long does it take to ship goods by rail from China to European countries?
The transportation time of China-Europe trains varies according to the route and distance. Generally speaking, the transportation time from China to Europe is between 15 and 20 days. Please refer to the following table:
| Origin | Destination (Europe) | Approximate Transit Time |
|---|---|---|
| China | Germany | 16-18 days |
| China | Poland | 17-19 days |
| China | France | 18-20 days |
| China | Spain | 18-21 days |
| China | Hungary | 17-20 days |
| China | Italy | 16-19 days |
| China | Austria | 16-19 days |
| China | Belgium | 16-19 days |
| China | Czech | 16-19 days |
Freight forwarding company from China to Europe by rail
Bestlink Logistics provides rail freight services from China to the world, covering several important routes such as China-Europe Express and China-Central Asia Express. We can provide customized rail transportation solutions according to your needs and provide you with full tracking services to ensure that the goods arrive at the destination smoothly and safely.
By cooperating with us, you can not only enjoy efficient and reliable rail transportation services, but also choose flexible customs clearance, warehousing and final distribution solutions according to your needs. Whether you are a transporter of bulk commodities or a cross-border e-commerce seller, Bestlink Logistics will be your reliable logistics partner.