Sea-rail direct transport boosts global reach for ‘Made in Henan’ products

Henan Daily

Zhengzhou: On March 10, with a resounding whistle, a container train carrying leather goods set off from Putian Railway Station in Zhengzhou. After reaching Qingdao Port by rail, the goods will seamlessly transition to a maritime route bound for Spain, where they will be shipped to the European market.

“It’s the first time Henan has exported leather goods via the ‘land-sea coordination and sea-rail direct transport’ model. This not only expands the range of goods benefiting from the model, but also opens up more efficient export routes for Henan’s key industries, helping local businesses access international markets at a lower cost,” said Shao Zhenwen, head of the Logistics Monitoring Division at Zhengzhou Station Customs under Zhengzhou Customs.

Henan has developed a relatively comprehensive leather goods supply chain, with numerous industrial parks across the province showing significant agglomeration effects. As a result, Henan-made leather products are more cost-effective and highly competitive in both domestic and international markets.

“Leather goods require high efficiency in both transportation and customs clearance. To help Henan’s leather industry expand into larger overseas markets and boost its global competitiveness, we’ve taken specific measures, adopting the ‘land-sea coordination and sea-rail direct transport’ model to help businesses cut costs and improve efficiency,” said Shao Zhenwen. He added that this approach has shortened the overall logistics cycle for export goods by nearly a day compared to traditional methods, saving over 20 percent in port detention and logistics costs.

In April last year, the “land-sea coordination and sea-rail direct transport” model was launched in Henan. By integrating railway and sea transport resources, the model has significantly reduced transfer times and enhanced Zhengzhou’s role as a key logistics hub. This initiative is accelerating Henan’s efforts to build a unified national market and circular hub, making it a key link in domestic and international trade. So far, over 700 tons of goods have been shipped under this model, with destinations including Italy, Greece, the United States, and other regions.