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Yunnan opens the first China-Europe international freight train to transport 2050 tons of coffee

Published: 2026-04-08 Author: World Gafei

Last Updated: 2026/04/08, Kunming, July 1 (Xinhua) July 1, the first China-Europe (Kunming to Rotterdam, the Netherlands) coffee container international freight train from Kunming Wangjiaying West Railway Station, the train loaded with 2050 tons of coffee beans, coffee instant powder will arrive in Rotterdam in 15 days. According to reports, the successful opening of this train marks a direct railway transport mode from Yunnan to Europe.

Kunming, Xinhuanet, July 1 (Reporter Ji Zhe Peng)

The first international freight train for coffee containers from Kunming to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, left Kunming Wangjiaying West Railway Station on July 1. the train loaded with 2050 tons of coffee beans and coffee instant powder will arrive in Rotterdam in 15 days.

According to reports, the successful opening of this train marks the official opening of the railway transport mode from Yunnan to Europe, and it is also the first time that Yunnan exports highly processed coffee products to Europe through railway transport, opening a new channel for Chinese coffee to Europe, and becoming one of the specific measures for Yunnan to actively integrate into the national "Belt and Road Initiative" strategy.

Liu Baisheng, director of the Kunming Railway Bureau, said at the opening ceremony that the train was jointly operated by the Kunming Railway Bureau and the China Railway Container Corporation, and the domestic section passed through Chengdu, Baoji, Lanzhou and Ala Mountain pass. The international section arrived in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, via Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany.

After years of development, Yunnan has accounted for more than 99% of the country's coffee acreage and output, and is also China's largest coffee export base. According to the statistics of Yunnan Coffee Industry Association, the planting area of coffee in the province has reached more than 1.8 million mu, with an output of about 120000 tons. Europe has always been an important export market for Yunnan coffee.

"in the past, coffee from Yunnan had to be sold to Europe by sea, via the Strait of Malacca and the Mediterranean. It would take 30 days to reach Europe at the earliest, and it would take more than 40 days in the event of typhoons and other factors." Xiong Xiangren, chairman of Dehong Hougu Coffee Co., Ltd., said.

Xiong Xiangren said that after the opening of the international freight train for coffee containers in China and Europe (Kunming to Rotterdam, the Netherlands), Yunnan coffee can be arrived in Europe by train from Kunming in half a month, saving enterprises nearly 2 prime 3 of the time, and can be unloaded midway, which not only promotes trade facilitation, but also accelerates the turnover of corporate funds.

Liu Baisheng said that starting from July this year, the China-Europe train initially plans to open two pairs per month, and it is expected to send about 24000 tons of coffee beans in the second half of this year, and more than 140000 tons and 300000 tons respectively in the next two years. This not only opens up a new fast logistics channel for the export of materials from southwest China to Europe, but also provides new convenience for the transfer of materials from Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar and other South Asian and Southeast Asian countries to European countries.

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