Cargo train arrives in China's small commodity hub from Madrid

A cargo train with 64 containers traveled for 24 days along the Yixin'ou cargo line to arrive Yiwu, China's small commodity center in Zhejiang province. Photo / Xinhua

HANGZHOU - A cargo train with 64 containers completed its maiden journey from Madrid, Spain, to China's eastern city of Yiwu, on Sunday.

The train traveled for 24 days along the Yixin'ou cargo line, the longest of all the China-European cargo railways, officials said. The train was carrying famous Spanish products including wine and olive oil.

The 13,000-km line passes through China, Spain, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany and France.

The service opened at the end of 2014. The first train from China to Spain, carrying stationary, craft products and products for the Christmas market, left Yiwu on Nov 18, 2014, and arrived in Madrid after 21 days.

The line is a more efficient export channel for Yiwu's commodities, as the city previously relied heavily on air and sea transportation.

"The cargo train will boost economic exchange between Yiwu, the world's largest small commodity market, and Madrid, Europe's largest small commodity market," said Li Huihuan, manager of Yiwu C. F. International Logistics Co. Ltd.

According to Yiwu customs, Yiwu's import and export volume in 2014 was 148.6 billion yuan ($23.7 billion), an increase of 28.6 percent year on year.