Ningbo port reinvents inland export access

A new high-speed logistics route from Hefei, East China's Anhui province, to Germany via Ningbo, Zhejiang province, is transforming inland China's access to global markets, according to Ningbo Daily.

On April 30, a shipment of China's popular "new trio" exports — solar panels, lithium batteries, and electric vehicles — departed Hefei North Railway Station and arrived at Ningbo Zhoushan Port just 18 hours later via a dedicated sea-rail express line. From there, the cargo connected to the "China-Europe Express Shipping" service, reaching Wilhelmshaven, Germany in just 26 days. The entire journey was completed in a record 27 days. It is the first of its kind in China and signals a breakthrough for inland foreign trade.

Exports from the Yangtze River Delta region used to take 38 days to reach Europe, often with multiple transfers and higher risks of cargo damage. Now, the newly launched direct shipping service — without intermediate port stops — saves nearly two weeks in transit time. The sea-rail leg has slashed logistics costs by over 40 percent compared to previous road-sea options.

According to a Hefei-based manufacturer, the dual-fast model provides major savings. The sea-rail segment alone cuts costs by 60 percent compared to trucking, and total logistics costs are down more than 40 percent.

These benefits stem from two key innovations: a coordinated "corridor and platform" system jointly developed by Ningbo Zhoushan Port and China Railway Shanghai Group — pushing the punctuality rate to 98 percent — and highly efficient vessel utilization, with "new trio" products achieving over 95 percent load rates.

"In the future, it won't just be Hefei. As long as a city has a sea-rail express line, we can extend this dual-fast model to serve more inland exporters. We'll also introduce more vessels, increase the frequency of the China-Europe Express, and upgrade our overseas warehousing in Germany to enhance regional distribution," said Sun Xuejun, Party secretary and chairman of Zhejiang Seaport Logistics Group.