China reports higher railway freight volumes in Jan-May

China’s railway freight transport maintained steady growth in the first five months of 2026, with the national railway network moving 1.67 billion tonnes of cargo between January and May, up 1.8 per cent year on year, driven by higher freight volumes, strong growth in vehicle shipments and expanding international rail services, according to China State Railway Group Co, Ltd.

The average daily number of loaded freight wagons reached 186,300 during the period, up 2.8 per cent from a year earlier, as reported by Chinese media.

China’s railway network transported 1.67 billion tonnes of cargo in January-May 2026, up 1.8 per cent YoY, while daily loaded freight cars increased 2.8 per cent.
Rail shipments of export commercial vehicles surged 55.5 per cent to 824,000 units.
International rail freight services handled 15,506 trips, with China-Europe freight train operations rising 21 per cent YoY.

Vehicle exports remained a key growth driver. Railways carried 824,000 export commercial vehicles in the first five months, representing a 55.5 per cent YoY increase. Shipments of new energy vehicles (NEVs) more than doubled to 422,000 units, rising 110.3 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Cross-border rail freight services also expanded. China-Europe and other international rail freight routes across Asia completed 15,506 trips during the January-May period, up 12.6 per cent YoY.

Among these, China-Europe freight train services accounted for 9,331 trips, registering a 21 per cent increase from the corresponding period of 2025.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)