China's railway freight volume rises in first half of 2026

BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China's national railways handled more than 2 billion tonnes of cargo in the first half of 2026, up 1.8 percent year on year, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. said on Friday.

China-Europe freight train services also maintained strong growth, with 11,178 trips made during this period, helping keep domestic and international logistics channels running smoothly.

The company said it has accelerated the development of a modern railway logistics system in recent years, expanding logistics hubs, dedicated railway lines and freight equipment to better serve industrial and agricultural supply chains.

On Friday, the railway operator signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives in Beijing. The two sides will deepen cooperation in regular freight services for transporting Xinjiang cotton, grain from northern China to the south, and imported fertilizers.

The new services are expected to improve the circulation of agricultural materials, cut logistics costs and better support the building of a unified national market and all-around rural revitalization, according to the company.