Qinzhou advances as key intl hub for ASEAN trade

Qinzhou in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, a critical node in China's New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, is transforming into a high-efficiency international port serving ASEAN markets.

At the Qinzhou automated container terminal at Beibu Gulf Port, cargo originating from western regions such as Sichuan and Chongqing is efficiently transferred between vessels and trains, facilitating its dispatch to global destinations.

From January to March this year, Qinzhou Port handled 51 million metric tons of cargo, up 5.5 percent year-on-year, with container throughput reaching 1.66 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 10.9 percent increase.

The port's rail-sea intermodal transport moved 105,835 TEUs during the same period. It now connects with over 300 ports across over 100 countries and regions, strengthening trade links between western China and global markets.

Nationwide, the corridor's rail-sea freight volume surged 68.2 percent to 345,200 TEUs in the first quarter, reaching 556 ports in 127 countries. Cargo categories expanded to 1,234 types, including machinery, agricultural goods, and chemicals.

Industrial clusters are experiencing significant growth. The China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park has attracted projects in the renewable energy and chemicals sectors, reinforcing the synergistic advantages of integrating port facilities, industry activities, and logistics operations.

The park aims to upgrade Qinzhou from a transit hub to a trade nexus, leveraging RCEP to expand ASEAN shipping routes and cross-border supply chains. With annual cargo throughput exceeding 200 million tons and 10,000 rail-sea freight trips, Qinzhou is cementing its role as a gateway for international trade.