Rail freight growth bolsters China's economic recovery

China's railways moved 2.68 billion metric tons of cargo from January to August, up 3.5 percent year-on-year, the national railway operator said on Tuesday.

China State Railway Group said the rail system handled an average of 184,000 freight cars per day during the period, a 4.3 percent increase. The company said the sector's growing efficiency and service quality have provided solid support for the country's steady economic recovery.

Railway operators have expanded logistics services this year to better meet demand, offering intercity express freight, door-to-door bulk cargo delivery and cold-chain transport. The 95306 railway freight booking platform now covers 78 multimodal routes, with rail-water intermodal shipments reaching 11.48 million TEUs in the first eight months, up 17.5 percent.

Coal transport remained a priority, with 1.38 billion tons moved in the first eight months, including 940 million tons for power generation. Key energy corridors ensured stable supplies through the summer peak.

Cross-border freight also ran smoothly, with China-Europe freight trains, Central Asia services, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the China-Laos Railway maintaining stable operations. Enhanced customs coordination and digital port systems improved clearance efficiency.

The company said it will continue to expand modern logistics capacity, develop competitive freight products and help lower logistics costs to support the broader economy.