由 lltx1822 China-Europe Railway’s “Eastern Corridor” Exceeds 3,000 Trains: New Momentum for Northeast China’s Port Cluster Opening-Up
On August 7, 2025, China Railway Harbin Group released data: As of July 31, China-Europe Railway trains passing through the “Eastern Corridor” (Manzhouli, Suifenhe, and Tongjiang railway ports) reached 3,002, transporting over 300,000 TEUs, accounting for 26.6% of national China-Europe Railway volume. This milestone not only sets a new record but also highlights Northeast China’s port cluster as a hub in China-Europe trade.
I. The “Eastern Corridor”: The “Northern Artery” of China-Europe Railway
Comprising Manzhouli, Suifenhe, and Tongjiang railway ports, the “Eastern Corridor” is one of the shortest land routes connecting China to Europe. Manzhouli, China’s largest land port, handles over 60% of China-Europe Railway traffic. Suifenhe connects Russia’s Far East Railway, linking to St. Petersburg and Moscow. The Tongjiang Railway Bridge (China-Russia’s first cross-river railway bridge), operational since 2022, added a new freight artery to the corridor.
Compared to the “Western Corridor” (via Alashankou and Horgos ports), the “Eastern Corridor” offers unique advantages: shorter distances (1,000-1,500km shorter from Northeast China to Europe, saving 2-3 days), stable routes (via Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway with lower geopolitical risks), and strong winter adaptability (ports like Manzhouli feature coal thawing and container heating facilities for year-round operation).
In 2025, the corridor’s network expanded to 27 routes, covering 14 European countries including Poland (Malaszewicze), Germany (Hamburg), and the Netherlands (Rotterdam). The “Shenyang-Hamburg” service operates 5x weekly, while the “Harbin-Moscow” route added cold chain trains for meat and fruits.
II. Behind 3,000 Trains: Dual Upgrades in Volume and Structure
The 3,000-train milestone reflects not just quantity growth but also optimized cargo structure and improved service capacity.
Volume-wise, corridor trains grew 150% from 1,200 in 2020 to 3,000 in 2025, with a 20% CAGR. This reflects Northeast China’s deepened opening-up: Liaoning’s auto parts, Jilin’s agricultural products, and Heilongjiang’s wood products flow to Europe via the corridor. H1 2025 saw Liaoning export 120,000 TEUs of auto parts via the corridor, up 45% YoY.
Cargo structure shows a surge in high-value goods. In 2020, ~60% of shipments were bulk commodities (steel, coal); by 2025, electronics, machinery, and vehicles accounted for 55%, with laptops and new energy auto parts up 80% and 120% YoY. This aligns with European demand—EU subsidies for new energy vehicles boosted Chinese component exports, with the corridor’s speed advantage (30 days faster than sea) making it a top choice.
To support growth, infrastructure upgraded continuously. Manzhouli added 5 container lines, expanded yards from 100,000 to 250,000 sqm, and cut clearance time from 8 to 3 hours. Tongjiang Railway Bridge’s automated container terminal, with unmanned forklifts and smart scheduling, achieved 10,000 TEUs monthly throughput.
III. Strategic Significance for Northeast China’s Revitalization
The corridor’s vitality injects new momentum into Northeast China’s industrial base revitalization.
Industrially, it integrates Northeast enterprises into global chains. FAW Group ships engines via the corridor to Volkswagen’s Slovakia plant, then imports finished vehicles—forming a “Northeast manufacturing-European assembly-global sales” loop. This cut export costs by 20% and improved order response by 50%. H1 2025 saw Northeast China’s foreign trade grow 18%, with 35% attributed to corridor shipments.
Economically, it boosted logistics, trade, and manufacturing employment. Manzhouli’s port area formed clusters of logistics parks, bonded warehouses, and auto assembly plants, creating 50,000 jobs. Harbin’s international container hub increased local logistics firms from 200 (2020) to 500 (2025), with 从业人员 up 120%.
Wang Ying, researcher at Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences’ Northeast Asia Institute, stated: “The ‘Eastern Corridor’ transformed the Northeast from an ‘inland backwater’ to an ‘open frontier.’ Previously reliant on Dalian Port for exports, the region now accesses Europe directly via rail—diversifying logistics and enhancing economic resilience.”
IV. Future Direction: From “Transport Corridor” to “Trade Hub”
To evolve from “corridor” to “hub,” bottlenecks must be addressed:
Low return cargo ratio: Currently 3:1 (China-Europe vs. Europe-China), with high empty container rates inflating costs. Limited European exports to China (e.g., timber, machinery) and air freight preference for high-value goods contribute. Northeast provinces are joint-building a “China-Europe Railway cross-border e-commerce 集采 platform,” encouraging Alibaba and JD to import European baby products and luxury goods via the corridor, targeting a 1:1.5 return ratio by 2026.
Weak multi-modal connectivity: Rail dominates, with poor road-sea links. For example, Heilongjiang grain requires road transport to rail stations, adding steps. The planned “Harbin-Jiamusi” dedicated railway will connect grain-producing areas directly to the corridor, aiming to cut short-haul costs by 15% upon 2027 completion.
深化国际合作: The corridor traverses 70% Russian territory, but coordination gaps remain (e.g., incompatible scheduling systems, winter capacity limits). In May 2025, China Railway and Russian Railways agreed to upgrade key Trans-Siberian sections, increasing speed from 80 to 100km/h and establishing a Sino-Russian joint dispatch center to improve efficiency.
Future plans include “train + finance” and “train + tourism” models: launching cross-border supply chain finance using transport documents for loans; and opening “Moscow-Harbin” tourist trains to boost Sino-Russian tourism.
From 1,200 to 3,000 trains, the “Eastern Corridor’s” growth mirrors Northeast China’s opening-up and deepened China-Russia-Europe trade. Amid global supply chain restructuring, this northern artery fuels Northeast revitalization and Eurasian trade with greater openness.