A freight train departs from Yiwu in East China's Zhejiang province, headed for Madrid, Spain, on Monday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A freight train carrying 110 containers of goods, including daily necessities, auto parts, and machinery, departed from Yiwu, Zhejiang province, heading for Madrid, Spain on Nov 18. This marked the 10th anniversary of the Yiwu-Madrid freight route, a vital artery in the Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe freight train network.

Since its inaugural journey in 2014, the Yiwu-Madrid route has grown significantly. Over the past decade, more than 6,700 trains have transported over 670,000 standard containers, supporting Yiwu's global trade network. The value of goods shipped annually has surged from $92 million in 2014 to $2.62 billion in 2023, with the variety of transported items expanding from 10,000 to nearly 50,000, including high-value goods like auto parts, smart appliances, and solar components.

The route’s reach has broadened to over 50 countries and 160 cities across Asia and Europe, encompassing major corridors to Central Europe, Russia, and Central Asia. Return shipments have also increased, now comprising 60.3% of total traffic, compared to less than 10% in 2014.

Yiwu trades with more than 230 countries and regions. The Yiwu International Trade Market hosts 15,000 businesses that rely on the China-Europe freight service for exporting, importing, and re-exporting goods. As of October 2024, the train service has facilitated the exchange of nearly 50,000 types of products in 26 major categories.

The Yiwu-Madrid route exemplifies the critical role of China-Europe rail links in advancing global trade, driving industrial upgrades, and fostering economic connectivity between continents.