China-Europe Express spurs faster cross-border trade in Ningbo

Container loading is underway at the terminal of Ningbo Zhoushan Port. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Ningbo Zhoushan Port sent nearly 1,700 twenty-foot equivalent unit containers of CATL and BYD-made batteries and other goods to Wilhelmshaven, Germany on Dec 30 – marking the inaugural journey of the China-Europe Express.

The Ningbo-Wilhelmshaven direct route cuts the shipping time to just 26 days, making it the fastest direct route between Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and Europe.

In November, Zhejiang Seaport Logistics Group and several partners signed a memorandum to establish this "maritime highway", connecting the Yangtze River Delta with Northwestern Europe.

An overseas warehouse in Wilhelmshaven began trial operations on Dec 3, enhancing the distribution of cross-border trade and new energy products in Europe.

Goods shipped via the China-Europe Express can now use Wilhelmshaven as a hub for transshipments to Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea – or by land to key European countries – cutting the total transit time to 30 days. This new route is said to really be boosting the efficiency of China-Europe trade.

With the Belt and Road Initiative progressing, China-Europe industrial cooperation is deepening. The China-Europe Express aims to provide a new export solution for electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products from the Yangtze River Delta and beyond.

Maritime authorities and customs in Ningbo have also optimized processes to ensure smooth operations, reducing logistics costs and saving time.

This new logistics model is expected to support the BRI and enhance global trade, attracting more enterprises use it.