New Model of ITL! First Launch of Sea-Rail Transport (RORO) for Japan-South Korea Transit Cars Through Asia-Europe Land-Sea Trade Corridor

On August 12, 2022, the first sea-rail intermodal RORO train for transporting exported Japanese/South Korean cars through the Asia-Europe Land-Sea Trade Corridor (Nagoya-Tianjin-Xi'an-Almaty), jointly operated by Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Xi'an International Inland Port Investment & Development Group (ITL Group), and Nippon Express (China) Co., Ltd. (NX China), departed successfully from Tianjin. It marks the addition of a new member to the car transportation products and routes under the regular operation of Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd.

This batch of exported cars, after leaving its Japanese factory, was first delivered to Nagoya Port by domestic shipping, and then to Tianjin by an international RORO ship. After the cars were unloaded at the Tianjin Port, they rode a RORO train westward, went past Xi'an, exited China through Khorgos Port, and finally arrived at Altynkol Station in Kazakhstan. After that, they were delivered to the place designated by the customer in Almaty by car carriers.

This successful launch of the (Nagoya-Tianjin-Xi'an-Almaty) sea-rail intermodal RORO train for transporting exported Japanese/South Korean cars can be attributed to the tremendous efforts of Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd. Based on the traditional logistics channels for Japanese and South Korean car enterprises to export products to Central Asia, the company made full use of China's abundant railway transport resources and its own sophisticated cross-border multimodal transportation routes to open up a brand new international logistics channel connecting Japan/South Korea, China, and Central Asia for Japanese/South Korean enterprises including car manufacturers.

Notably, compared with the traditional transportation routes, the corridor adopts the transportation mode combining "RORO ship, RORO train, and car carrier", which drastically reduces the whole transportation time from over 60 days (mainly by sea) to about 20 days, drastically shortening the transit time.

Meanwhile, ITL Bonded Logistics, a subsidiary of ITL Group, assigned a professional car port operation team to Tianjin for conducting professional spot check on the cars, receiving unanimous praise from the customer.

·A Scene of Spot Check·

Earlier this year, after hearing from NX China that Japanese customers have a strong demand for shipping goods from Japan to Central Asia and even Europe via China, Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd. immediately organized a professional team to formulate a plan in cooperation with parties concerned, and finally proposed the logistics solution combining "RORO ship, RORO train, and car carrier". This solution effectively addressed the dilemma of shipping suspension due to the international situation.

In recent years, by making full use of the functional advantages of Xi'an Port (automobile import port), the policy advantages of the comprehensive bonded zone and the professional advantages of its own car logistics team, Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd. has successfully provided stable, efficient and safe customized automobiles and parts logistics services for car brands such as BYD, SXQC, Volvo, Audi and French PSA Peugeot Citroen.

        Zhai Ruopeng, Deputy General Manager of ITL Group：

"In the light of the requirements put forward by the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee and the People's Government of Shaanxi Province about concentrating on building the Asia-Europe Land-Sea Trade Corridor (hereinafter referred to as "the Corridor"), Xi'an International Inland Port Investment & Development Group (ITL Group) actively explores and innovates. Since the departure ceremony of the first test RORO train through the Corridor successfully held in Xi'an in July 2021, the two-way operation of RORO trains has been normalized. The latest operation of a RORO train marks a new option for Japanese and South Korean enterprises, especially auto manufacturers, to export products to Central Asia and Europe. This further exemplified the Corridor's important role in the global international logistics network."

Satoshi Kato, Director of Cross-border Transportation Planning and Development Department in NIPPON EXPRESS LOGISTICS (CHINA) CO., LTD.：

"As one of the first Fortune 500 enterprises settled in Xi'an Comprehensive Bonded Zone, NIPPON EXPRESS LOGISTICS established a close and pragmatic all-round strategic partnership with ITL Group right after it settled in the Zone. We are very pleased to see that the two sides have continued to expand areas of cooperation in recent years. In December 2018, the Nippon Express Special Train of China Railway Express (Chang’an) was successfully put into operation. This time, we have made new breakthroughs in the cooperation on cross-border transportation of commercial vehicles. It is particularly valuable to discover new opportunities amid the changes and challenges facing the current special international political and economic environment. In the future, we hope to deepen cooperation, and actively develop new routes and new products to cater to customer needs, so as to empower the international supply chain through logistics."

The first launch of the sea-rail intermodal RORO train for transporting exported Japanese/South Korean cars through the Asia-Europe Land-Sea Trade Corridor opened up a new channel for Japanese and South Korean car enterprises to export products to Central Asia and Europe. ITL Group hopes that more Japanese and South Korean companies will give the Corridor a chance.

ITL Group, its subordinate Xi’an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd. and related parties will always be committed to providing enterprises with efficient, high-quality and professional international multimodal transportation services that are responsive to the needs of customers, and actively participate in the construction of the Corridor. They will make greater contributions to Shaanxi's deep integration into the "Belt and Road" pattern, accelerated opening up, and construction of a highland for reform and opening up in Chinese inland!