URUMQI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A freight train loaded with 2,000 tonnes of liquid chemical departed Friday from Korla city in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the German city of Ludwigshafen.

It is the first time that Xinjiang has exported liquid chemical to Europe via the China-Europe freight train route.

The train carried 82 tank containers of BDO, a liquid chemical mainly used as a solvent in the manufacture of plastics, medicine and cosmetics. It will reach Ludwigshafen in 15 days, after traversing Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania and Poland.

The trans-continental freight train route has become increasingly popular since it was launched in July 2013.