China-Europe freight train Guangzhou sees first returning grain special train

Photo provided by Sinotrans Ltd. shows a freighttraindeparting from Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, which is bound for Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, on May 25, 2021. (Xinhua)

A China-Europe freight train carrying 100 TEUs of barley pulled into Guangzhou Dalang international logistics and freight base on May 27th, which marks the first returning grain special train of the Guangzhou China-Europe freight train since its first launch in August 2016, reported Guangzhou Daily Monday.

The train, loaded with more than 1,300 tonnes of barley, departed from Chkalovo railway station in Kazakhstan and arrived in Guangzhou after a 20-day-trip. The barley will then be processed into malt and supplied to brewers in southern China as raw materials of beer.

The successful operation of this grain train has not only effectively improved the transportation efficiency of the Guangzhou China-Europe freight train, but also helped to expand the business scale of trade cooperation between Guangdong and countries along the Belt and Road routes.

It is learned that the grain processing enterprises in Guangdong have a large demand for barley, while facing a relatively small barley-producing areas. Kazakhstan barley is of good quality and price advantage, which will form a good foundation for win-win cooperation.

Statistics showed that as of now, Guangzhou Customs has witnessed a total of 90 cargo trains this year, with 8,388 TEUs valuing of 2.066 billion yuan shipped, posting strong year on year growth.