由 caicai8478 On the logistics map of China-Myanmar trade, there is no one type of transportation method that is perfect. Sea transportation is low in cost but slow in time, and cannot reach the mainland; air transportation is fast but the price is high; land transportation is flexible but controlled by the border and road conditions. However, a smarter logistics mode — multi-modal transport (Intermodal Transport) — is like an “intangible bridge”, by skillfully combining different modes of transportation, taking long and making up for short, and charting the best route for Chinese-Myanmar logistics.
Multi-modal transportation refers to the use of two or more modes of transportation, using only one contract, one document, and one person in charge (multi-modal transportation operator, MTO) in the entire transportation process, and completes continuous transportation from the starting point to the final destination.
one Why does China Myanmar Logistics need multiple types of transportation?
Myanmar’s geography and economy determine the limitations of a single mode of transportation:
Separation of the core economic zone: the main import consumption areas and manufacturing bases are concentrated in Yangon (southern sea port), while the vast inland areas and areas bordering China, such as Macau, require efficient inward radiation.
The infrastructure is uneven: it has a harbor (仰光港) and an airport (亰光, Mêléx勒 Airport), but the inland railway network is weak, and the highway is the main connecting line.
Diversification of customer needs: Some customers pursue the best cost, some pursue the best time, and more customers seek the best balance between cost and time.
多式联运 was created to solve these contradictions. It does not rely on a single physical bridge, but builds an efficient “无形桥梁” through operation and cooperation.
二、 Core Mode One: 海陆联运 (Sea-Land)—— The art of balancing cost and efficiency
This is the most common and mature multi-modal transport mode, especially suitable for goods sent from the eastern coastal region of China to the mainland of Myanmar.
- Standard path:
中国公司 → 中国市年（如上海、宁波、深圳） → 海运 → 仰光港（Yangon Port) → Trucking → Myanmar 内陆电影(如曼德勒、内比都、仰光市内市市) - How to optimize?
Path optimization:
Alternative to pure sea transport: After pure sea transport goods arrive in Hong Kong, it is necessary to collect goods by oneself and arrange the goods separately.
Alternative to pure land transport: For goods shipped from eastern China, the total cost of “海+陆” is usually lower than pure land transport (long-distance road transport cost is high), and avoids the risk of turbulence and border congestion in long-distance land transport.
Cost optimization: Utilize the scale effect of ocean shipping to undertake long-distance dry line transportation, reduce the main transportation fee; Utilize the flexibility of the truck to complete the “last mile” delivery, and avoid the storage fee caused by the backlog of goods at the port.
Optimizing time: professional MTO will report the cargo arrival information in advance, arrange the destination port in 清关 and the car team in advance, and the cargo can be removed once it arrives at the port, greatly shortening the time spent at the port.
- Applicable scene:
The vast majority of non-urgent large goods, daily consumer goods, machinery, construction materials, etc. is the most cost-effective entry-level multi-modal transport plan.
三、 Core Mode 二: 空陆联运 (Air-Land) —— Combination of speed and depth
This mode is a customized “VIP channel” for high-value, high-timeliness cargo, and at the same time, it solves the pain point of areas outside the airport where air transportation cannot be directly reached.
- Standard path:
China Factory → China Airport (如广州、昆明、上海) → Air Transport → Yangon International Airport (RGN)/曼德勒 International Airport (MDL) → Trucking → Myanmar Destination - How to optimize?
Path optimization:
Airport selection optimization: the destination is Burma North (如木姐、腊戍) cargo, directly air transport to Mạn德勒 Airport (MDL), and then through short-haul truck transport, saving a lot of time than all of them through Yangon.
服务深化：Combining the “快” of air transport and the “达” of highway, we realize the “door to door” delivery from Chinese factories to domestic factories in Myanmar.
Cost optimization: Although the absolute cost is high, but by optimizing the airport selection, the higher combined cost of “air transportation to Yangon + long-distance 陆起起设计 to Myanmar North” has been avoided, achieving the best cost between districts.
Value optimization: Guaranteed the time value of goods such as key equipment, emergency spare parts, fresh samples, and the recovery of production, market opportunities and customer satisfaction that it brings are far higher than the logistics costs paid.
- Applicable scenarios:
High-end electronic products, emergency spare parts, precision instruments, fresh food, medical supplies, high-value samples, etc. - Core advantages and value of 多式联运
Simplified process, unified responsibility: the shipper only needs to contact one MTO, sign a contract, and obtain a certificate. If there is any problem, only one MTO is responsible, which greatly reduces the cost of communication and the difficulty of making a claim.
Optimizing costs, improving efficiency: MTO can obtain better freight rates by scaling procurement of each segment of transportation services, and reduce turnaround time through professional planning, thereby reducing total costs and improving efficiency for customers.
Realize real “door to door” service: Break down the barrier of the transportation method, build a complete supply chain solution from the starting point in China to the terminal in Myanmar, and provide customers with great convenience.
Enhanced supply chain resilience and visibility: An excellent MTO will provide a comprehensive cargo tracking system (Track & Trace), allowing customers to know the location of goods at sea, air or road at any time, enhancing the predictability and controllability of the supply chain.
- Challenges and implementation recommendations
Challenge: The qualifications, network coverage, and operational capabilities of MTOs are extremely high. China’s clearance efficiency, infrastructure, and transportation standards are still potential bottlenecks.
Implementation recommendations:
Choose a reliable partner: Be sure to choose a large international freight forwarding or logistics company in China and Myanmar that has a physical network, rich operational experience, and a good reputation as an MTO.
Clear details: The contract clearly stipulates the transportation route, time node, each party’s responsibility, and breach of contract responsibility.
Pay attention to the insurance: ensure that 多式联迆保十国际全程意作进行交。
Conclusion
Multi-modal transport is no longer an unattainable concept. It has become the best solution for the optimization of China-Myanmar logistics routes. It is like a highly skilled conductor who coordinates different “music instruments” such as sea transport, air transport, land transport, etc., and plays a symphony of smooth, efficient, and low-cost logistics. For companies hoping to deepen the Myanmar market, understanding and using multi-modal transport means building a strong supply chain that surpasses competitors.