A surge in European demand for air conditioners and refrigerators amid a record-breaking summer heatwave has created a logistics challenge, but China-Europe freight trains are proving to be a vital solution. Departing from the Qingdao multimodal transport center, these trains are carrying Qingdao-made appliances to Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

In the first half of this year, Qingdao's exports of cooling appliances hit a record high of 8.69 billion yuan ($1.28 billion), while the second quarter alone saw a 23.8 percent year-on-year jump to 4.62 billion yuan. Haier's Jiaozhou factory delivered over 70,000 air conditioner units for the European market in just 10 days, while the Shanghai interconnected second factory increased its production schedule by 50 percent.

Efficient rail transport is a major advantage for local appliance manufacturers. While air freight is expensive and sea shipping can take considerably longer, factories near the SCO demonstration zone in Qingdao are located just 10 to 17 kilometers from the China-Europe freight train hub. From there, goods can reach Europe in just 15 to 25 days, cutting delivery times by two to four weeks compared with sea freight.

To manage the export peak, railway authorities have introduced a priority system for home appliance supply trains, with over 600 dedicated trains already serving more than 7,000 foreign trade companies and transporting goods worth nearly 49 billion yuan. This logistics network is key to helping "Shandong smart manufacturing" expand its global footprint.

A China-Europe freight train loaded with "Qingdao smart home appliances" departs from the SCO demonstration zone in Qingdao, delivering goods to European markets in just 15 to 25 days. [Photo/Guanhai News]