China's national railway network carried 1.67 billion tonnes of cargo in the first five months of 2026, a 1.8 percent increase from the same period last year, according to data released Sunday by China State Railway Group.
The daily average of loaded freight cars reached 186,300 in the January-to-May period, up 2.8 percent year-on-year, the state-owned operator reported.
Rail-based exports recorded the sharpest increases. Railways transported 824,000 commercial vehicles for export during the period, a rise of 55.5 percent compared with a year earlier. Within that total, 422,000 were new energy vehicles (NEVs), more than double the figure from the same period in 2025 and representing a 110.3 percent increase.
The surge in vehicle exports by rail reflects a broader shift in how Chinese automakers reach overseas markets. Rail transport to Europe and Central Asia typically takes 15 to 20 days, compared with 40 to 50 days by sea, offering manufacturers a faster route despite higher per-unit logistics costs.
International rail freight services also showed steady growth. Freight trains operating between China and Europe, and between China and other parts of Asia, completed 15,506 trips in the first five months, up 12.6 percent year-on-year. The China-Europe railway corridor specifically handled 9,331 trips, a 21 percent increase from the same period in 2025.
The figures align with broader expansion across China's logistics sector. The National Bureau of Statistics reported earlier this month that the logistics industry's revenue grew 5.6 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, supported by e-commerce activity and cross-border trade flows.
Rail infrastructure has been a central component of China's transport investment strategy. The government has expanded domestic freight capacity through new rail lines and upgrades to existing corridors, while also extending international links under the Belt and Road Initiative. The China-Europe rail network now connects more than 200 cities across 25 European countries, according to data from the China State Railway Group.
Exports of NEVs have emerged as a particular driver of rail freight demand. Chinese manufacturers, including BYD, SAIC Motor and Geely, have expanded production capacity and export programmes in response to growing international demand for affordable electric vehicles. Rail-borne NEV exports more than doubling year-on-year indicates the sustained pace of that expansion.
Economic data suggests the trend may continue. China's overall vehicle exports rose 23 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, with NEVs accounting for an increasing share of that total, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
The freight performance figures come as part of a regular release by China State Railway Group, a state-owned enterprise that operates the country's national rail network.
Sources: gov.cn/SCIO
