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Itochu climbs aboard China's Belt and Road Initiative
Japanese company uses improved logistics to start Japan-Europe freight service
NAOKI MATSUDA, Nikkei staff writer
A freight train leaves Dalian, China on Oct. 27 bound for Bratislava, Slovakia. The trip kicked off the start of a new China-Europe cargo train route stretching 10,537km. © AP
TOKYO -- Japanese trading house Itochu is launching a freight transport service linking Japan and Europe via China. The move comes after the company concluded that beefed-up logistics networks under China's Belt and Road Initiative would increase cargo movement.
The service, which will use existing local railway logistics between China and Europe, will begin by the end of March. Itochu Logistics, a subsidiary of Itochu, has been conducting trials of the Japan-Europe freight service since January.
Itochu has been working with logistics providers Chinese Railway & Itop Logistics in China and Gefco in Europe.
The first leg of the service will involve shipping cargo by sea from Japan to Dalian and Shanghai. After that, the cargo will be trucked by Itochu Logistics' to train stations inside China, including one in the city of Manzhouli.
There are two rail routes: a northern route traversing Russia, Belarus and Poland; and a southern route to Hamburg, Germany and other areas via Kazakhstan.
Related stories
Itochu expects to transport automotive parts, electronics and apparel from Japan to Europe, and receive automobiles, baby formula, processed foods and other products from the continent.
The company will be responsible for all logistics.
Under Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at expanding land and maritime links in Asia, Europe and Africa, the number of freight train services between China and Europe is growing, totaling about 3,600 in 2017. The number is expected to jump to around 5,000 in 2020.
In response, Japanese companies are initiating a Japan-Europe cargo service via land and sea transport.
Japanese company uses improved logistics to start Japan-Europe freight service
NAOKI MATSUDA, Nikkei staff writer
A freight train leaves Dalian, China on Oct. 27 bound for Bratislava, Slovakia. The trip kicked off the start of a new China-Europe cargo train route stretching 10,537km. © AP
TOKYO -- Japanese trading house Itochu is launching a freight transport service linking Japan and Europe via China. The move comes after the company concluded that beefed-up logistics networks under China's Belt and Road Initiative would increase cargo movement.
The service, which will use existing local railway logistics between China and Europe, will begin by the end of March. Itochu Logistics, a subsidiary of Itochu, has been conducting trials of the Japan-Europe freight service since January.
Itochu has been working with logistics providers Chinese Railway & Itop Logistics in China and Gefco in Europe.
The first leg of the service will involve shipping cargo by sea from Japan to Dalian and Shanghai. After that, the cargo will be trucked by Itochu Logistics' to train stations inside China, including one in the city of Manzhouli.
There are two rail routes: a northern route traversing Russia, Belarus and Poland; and a southern route to Hamburg, Germany and other areas via Kazakhstan.
Related stories
- China to step up financing for Belt and Road projects
- Japan to help finance China's Belt and Road projects
Itochu expects to transport automotive parts, electronics and apparel from Japan to Europe, and receive automobiles, baby formula, processed foods and other products from the continent.
The company will be responsible for all logistics.
Under Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at expanding land and maritime links in Asia, Europe and Africa, the number of freight train services between China and Europe is growing, totaling about 3,600 in 2017. The number is expected to jump to around 5,000 in 2020.
In response, Japanese companies are initiating a Japan-Europe cargo service via land and sea transport.
