Guizhou's first China-Europe (Asia) return freight train arrives at Guiyang FTZ carrying feed raw materials from Kazakhstan. [Photo/Official website of Guiyang FTZ]
Guiyang International Land Port recently welcomed a freight train carrying 100 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of feed raw materials from Kazakhstan. This marks the first-ever China-Europe (Asia) return freight train to arrive in Southwest China's Guizhou province.
Departing on May 29, the train reached Guiyang in just 12 days. Guizhou Forryed Supply Chain Co, a leading local agricultural and animal husbandry enterprise, requires a large volume of imported feed materials each year.
Previously, the company had to rely on third-party procurement. Goods had to be diverted through coastal ports or inland hubs like Chongqing and Chengdu before finally arriving in Guizhou, a grueling process that used to take nearly two months.
Upon learning about the challenges faced by local businesses, relevant departments at Guiyang Free Trade Zone stepped in. They coordinated with local trading enterprises to provide procurement services and worked with the Guiyang International Land Port to pool resources across customs, rail, and policy sectors, helping clear logistical bottlenecks and establish a dedicated freight corridor.
In early May, Guizhou Shanmu Trading Co used its resource network in Russia and Kazakhstan to select the highest-quality suppliers from over 10 local feed material companies, securing the necessary inventory.
Meanwhile, Guiyang International Land Port optimized the organization of the return train to resolve any transit pain points. Ultimately, this direct route slashed transit times compared to the old multi-stop model, achieving full-chain control across international procurement, direct rail transit, and expedited customs clearance.