Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 17, Horgos Port, a key railway hub in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has handled over 7,000 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train trips since the start of 2025, according to railway sources on Tuesday.

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 25, 2024 shows a view of the standard-gage yard of Horgos railway port in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The port operates 90 routes connecting 46 cities and regions across 18 countries, as noted by a staff member of China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd. The transported cargo includes over 200 types of goods, such as auto parts, electrical and electronic products, construction materials, steel, cultural and sports items, and daily necessities.

In May 2025, Horgos Port implemented a reform to accelerate customs clearance, reducing processing times for imported goods from two to three days down to under 16 hours, a 70% reduction. Local export clearance times were cut from six hours to just one hour, an 80% decrease. Real-time data sharing between customs and railway authorities allows live tracking of logistics and train information, enhancing overall customs efficiency for trains by more than 50%.

Located on the China-Kazakhstan border, Horgos Port, together with Alashankou Port (Alataw Pass), forms Xinjiang’s two main rail gateways. The China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train service transported more than 220,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of finished automobiles in 2024, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

As of June 2025, 128 Chinese cities have been connected to the China-Europe freight train network, reaching 229 cities in 26 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries. The network facilitates efficient cargo flow across Eurasia, supporting trade and logistics development.

Horgos Port’s ongoing improvements in customs clearance and digital logistics integration are strengthening its role as a major international transport hub, ensuring faster processing times and more reliable service for cross-border trade. The port’s operations are crucial for linking Chinese industries to European and Central Asian markets, helping maintain stable and efficient supply chains.

The combination of expanded rail routes, real-time logistics monitoring, and streamlined customs processes is expected to further increase Horgos Port’s capacity and competitiveness in global freight transport, supporting the growth of China-Europe trade along the Eurasian land corridor.

Horgos Port continues to serve as a strategic link for international trade, connecting a wide range of industries and enabling faster, more efficient shipment of goods across Eurasia. Its role in the China-Europe rail freight network underscores the importance of infrastructure modernization and digital integration in enhancing cross-border trade efficiency.