On January 17, 2026, under the supervision of customs officers from Guangzhou Railway Station Customs, a China-Europe freight train, X8428, loaded with toys, clothing, auto parts, and other goods, departed from Guangzhou International Port Station. It will exit China via the Alashankou Port and is expected to arrive in the European market in 12 days. According to statistics from Guangzhou Customs, in 2025, Guangzhou Railway Station Customs supervised a total export value of 60.76 million RMB for cross-border e-commerce goods via the Guangzhou International Port China-Europe freight train, representing a more than 20-fold increase compared to the previous year. This significant increase fully demonstrates the enormous potential and important role of the Guangzhou International Port China-Europe freight train in the field of cross-border e-commerce exports. In recent years, with the booming development of cross-border e-commerce, enterprises have increasingly urgent needs for cost-effective international logistics channels. Guangzhou Railway Station Customs has actively responded to this demand, continuously expanding the “train + ” business model. They have precisely addressed the needs of cross-border e-commerce enterprises, actively promoting cooperation between the Guangzhou International Port China-Europe freight train and cross-border e-commerce platforms, building a solid bridge for “high-quality Chinese products” to reach the Eurasian market.
Zhan Haihong, General Manager of Guangzhou Guoxiang Customs Brokerage Co., Ltd., who was responsible for the declaration of cross-border e-commerce goods, said, “The China-Europe Railway Express shortens the transportation time by about 15 days compared to traditional sea freight, which precisely meets the timeliness requirements of cross-border e-commerce goods. At the same time, it can effectively avoid the corrosive effects of humid air at sea on goods. In terms of transportation costs, the China-Europe Railway Express is at least one-third cheaper than air freight, giving it a significant competitive advantage.”
In response to the characteristics of cross-border e-commerce goods—high timeliness and scattered batches—Guangzhou Railway Station Customs has promoted the operation of mixed “cross-border e-commerce + general trade” trains. This model enables cross-border e-commerce parcels to be exported alongside bulk cargo, not only improving the utilization efficiency of train containers but also effectively shortening the shipping cycle for cross-border e-commerce companies, successfully resolving industry pain points such as “difficulty in consolidating containers and slow shipping” for fragmented cross-border e-commerce goods. Kang Qi, Deputy Section Chief of the Supervision Section of Guangzhou Railway Station Customs, explained, “To ensure the efficient and orderly operation of the China-Europe Railway Express, we continuously optimize supervision processes, actively expand the multimodal transport ‘One-Way’ network, vigorously promote the ‘Railway Fast Customs Clearance’ business model, and support companies in using manifest consolidation to reduce the number of customs declarations, compressing the time at the point of departure by approximately 30%.” Currently, the Guangzhou International Port China-Europe Railway Express cross-border e-commerce dedicated train has achieved regular operation, running once a week, providing stable logistics support for the continued development of cross-border e-commerce. With the continuous development and improvement of the Guangzhou International Port China-Europe Railway Express in the field of cross-border e-commerce exports, more “high-quality Chinese products” will leverage this convenient logistics channel to reach a broader international market, injecting new vitality into the global sales of Chinese goods.
