义乌：“钢铁驼队”运货忙

Core Insights - The Yiwu West Railway Freight Yard serves as a crucial hub connecting Yiwu, known as the "world supermarket," with Central Asia and Europe, especially during the peak shipping season before the Lunar New Year [1] - Since the launch of the Yiwu-Madrid China-Europe Railway Express in November 2014, the service has expanded to cover over 50 countries and regions in Asia and Europe, connecting more than 160 cities [1] - By 2025, the Yiwu West Railway Freight Yard is projected to handle 2,003 China-Europe trains, transporting 164,226 standard containers, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 15.1% in container volume [1] - Daily operations include an average of 4 trains, peaking at 7 during high-demand periods, supported by infrastructure improvements that have increased storage capacity by over 700 standard containers [1] Digital Transformation - The implementation of a smart container terminal system has significantly enhanced operational efficiency, allowing truck drivers to reduce the entire process time by approximately 50% through advance booking [2] - This system currently covers around 140 freight forwarding companies, indicating a broad adoption of digital tools in logistics [2] Trade Growth - In the past year, Yiwu's foreign trade exports and imports surpassed 800 billion yuan, reaching a record high of 836.5 billion yuan [2] - The China-Europe Railway Express has evolved to transport a diverse range of goods, now including 26 major categories and nearly 50,000 types of products, moving beyond the initial focus on daily consumer goods [2] - Notable growth in exports includes automotive parts, building materials, chemical products, and artworks, while imports have seen a rise in high-value goods such as electrolytic copper and aluminum ingots [2] Future Developments - Plans for 2023 include upgrading equipment such as gantry cranes and front cranes, alongside efforts to diversify transportation products and enhance collaboration with local governments and customs [3]