Horgos Port, a critical logistics hub in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has facilitated over 7,000 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train trips this year, signaling robust growth in transcontinental trade. Railway authorities confirmed the milestone on Tuesday, highlighting the port's role as a linchpin in Asia-Europe supply chains.
The railway gateway now operates 90 routes connecting 46 cities and regions across 18 countries, transporting over 200 types of goods ranging from auto parts to consumer electronics. A staff member from China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd. noted the diversity of cargo reflects deepening economic integration along the Belt and Road Initiative corridors.
Recent customs reforms at Horgos have revolutionized efficiency: import clearance now takes under 16 hours instead of three days, while local export processing time plummeted 80% to just one hour. Real-time data sharing between customs and rail operators enables live logistics tracking, cutting overall clearance times by more than half.
Strategically located on the China-Kazakhstan border alongside Alashankou Port, Horgos forms part of Xinjiang's dual-rail gateway system. China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. reports the broader China-Europe freight network transported over 220,000 TEUs of automobiles in 2024 alone.
With 128 Chinese cities now linked to 229 European and 100 Asian destinations through this rail network, analysts observe a structural shift in Eurasian trade patterns. The developments underscore Xinjiang's growing importance as a continental crossroads amid evolving global supply chains.
