The number of China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains entering and leaving via the two major railway ports in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Alashankou and Horgos railway ports, exceeded 16,000 in 2024, a 14 percent increase year-on-year, accounting for more than half of the national total.

According to the 2025 Urumqi Customs work conference on February 13, 2025, the number of China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains operating across various regions of the country continued to rise in 2024. The number of China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains entering and leaving via Alashankou and Horgos railway ports increased significantly compared to previous years. Among this, the Alashankou railway port handled 7,684 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains, marking a 15.8 percent increase, while the Horgos railway port handled 8,730 trains, reflecting a 12.5 percent growth, both achieving record highs.

The Horgos Customs and Alashankou Customs, have continuously optimized clearance processes to facilitate the rapid transit of freight trains. Both customs offices have established dedicated service windows for China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains, offering 24/7 clearance services. They have also enhanced coordination with railway and border inspection units, promoting a horizontal communication mechanism among multiple departments at the port, advancing the construction of a digital port, and actively promoting the "Railway Express customs clearance" mode. These efforts aim to improve inspection efficiency, ensuring that freight trains are inspected and released promptly, thereby increasing cargo throughput at the ports.

In 2024, the Alashankou railway port added eight new routes for China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains, with a peak daily operation of 29 trains and an average of 21 trains per day. Meanwhile, the Horgos railway port maintained a daily throughput of over 22 trains.

Currently, there are 123 routes for China-Europe freight trains operating through the Alashankou railway port and 85 routes through the Horgos railway port. An increasing variety of over 200 goods, including daily necessities, electromechanical equipment, electronic products, and agricultural by-products, are being transported via these trains from Xinjiang's Alashankou and Horgos railway ports to the Central Asian and European markets.

(Source: Urumqi Evening News, Reporter: Li Ningyan )