Chongqing and Sichuan strengthen logistics collaboration

Chongqing Guoyuan Container Terminal Co, Guoyuan Port Hub Co, and Sichuan Guang'an Port Logistics Co have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to establish an inland port in Guang'an, Sichuan province.

Despite the abundant cargo resources of Guang'an and its surrounding areas, over 98 percent of freight relies on road and rail transport. Since the opening of Guang'an Port in 2021, efforts have been underway to promote waterway transportation as a viable alternative.

As the development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle gains momentum, Guoyuan Port, the largest multimodal transport hub on the upper Yangtze River, plays a pivotal role as a transshipment hub for goods from Sichuan and other regions heading to international markets.

A representative from Guoyuan Port Hub Co said that the Guang'an inland port will facilitate seamless integration with major logistics corridors such as the Shanghai-Chongqing Express Line. This integration is expected to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

Innovative measures, including "departure confirmation" for import transshipment and the combined transport of domestic and foreign trade on the same vessel, have reduced round-trip shipping time on the Shanghai-Chongqing Express Line by over 40 percent.

In the first half of this year, the express line operated 647 voyages, a 21.6 percent increase year-on-year. It transported 29,398 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), a 34.6 percent rise from the previous year.

Guoyuan Port now connects to over 300 ports in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide, solidifying its position as a leading hub for opening up China's western region to global trade.

Guoyuan Port has also established inland ports in Chengdu's Longquanyi district and Panzhihua, enhancing its distribution capabilities in the southwest and advancing the development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle.