An annual working conference on Hunan's ports was convened in Changsha on March 7. According to the conference, the provincial port authority will focus on expanding channels and enhancing efficiency this year.

Hunan's three railway-based international trade channels—China-Europe (Changsha) freight train service, Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal transport service, and Huaihua-ASEAN freight train service—each reached the 1,000-trips milestone in 2024. Hunan will continue stabilizing the scale and optimizing the structure of the five international trade channels this year, and will also expand the services to benefit more cities and prefecture.

In 2025, Hunan will continue to advance "road-to-water, road-to-rail, and bulk cargo-to-containers" shifts in transport services, to vigorously promote "door-to-door and end-to-end" transport models, and to support the Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal transport service and other new models of "one-stop" international freight service, comprehensively expanding the service coverage of these channels. Priority will be given to Changsha in building a national hub for China-Europe freight train service, and rolling out continued supportive policies for China-Europe freight train service. Meanwhile, efforts will be made to advance the construction of Hunan's "smart ports" system, relying on the "Single Window" service for international trade.

In 2024, the China-Europe (Changsha) freight train service recorded 1,078 trips for imports and exports, with a cargo value reaching approximately 21.846 billion CNY, marking a 19.83% year-on-year increase. The Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal transport service completed 1,095 trips, up 76% year on year. The Huaihua-ASEAN freight train service handled 1,009 trips, surging 121.76% compared to the previous year.

Yueyang's Chenglingji Port handled 204,300 TEUs in foreign trade, growing 26.58% over the previous year. Changsha airport operated six international air cargo routes, delivering 69,200 metric tonnes of international and regional cargo and mail throughput, up 14.95% year on year.

The ports in the province recorded 1.629 million inbound and outbound trips, rising 130% over the previous year. The total number of inbound and outbound travelers, as well as the number and the proportion of foreign travelers all ranked first in the central region of China.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.excelee.com.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn