Qingdao FTZ welcomes 1st China-Europe freight train

The first China-Europe freight train bound for China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Qingdao Area arrives on July 17. [Photo/xihaiannews.com]

The China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Qingdao Area, or Qingdao FTZ, welcomed the first China-Europe freight train on July 17.

The train is 30 percent faster than shipping by cargo ships. It departed from Duisburg, Germany, on June 17, entered China via the Alashankou Port on July 1, and headed for Qingdao FTZ after completing customs clearance on July 3.

The train was loaded with 44 containers of SGEFinder's self-operated FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) products imported from Germany. SGEFinder is Qingdao Sino-German Ecopark Industrial Development Co Ltd's cooperation and exchange platform for importing German products and selling them in China.

"Compared with shipping by air or sea, this attempt of land shipment can be said to be very successful, making it a reality for German products to arrive directly at Qingdao FTZ," said Shao Lulu, deputy general manager of Qingdao Sino-German Ecopark Industrial Development Co Ltd.

Shao added that in the latter stages, cargo owners who need to transport goods can jointly use the train.

Qingdao FTZ is accumulating experience in handling cargos delivered via the train in terms of customs clearance, bonded warehousing, and distribution. It opened the "integrated customs clearance" mode for the first time for international railway freight clearance in the area, and will utilize the rapid flow of goods and quick distribution to surrounding cities via a new logistics channel.

The new Duisburg-Qingdao FTZ route also makes the direct, scheduled and regular operation of the China-Europe freight train bound for Qingdao FTZ a reality.

Zhou Yuxiang, director of Qingdao FTZ's Shipping and Logistics Department, said that in the future, the special China-Europe freight train, together with sea and air transport, is expected to become the normal shipping mode in Qingdao FTZ.