A freight train loaded with 1,080 tons of hot-dip galvanized steel coil departed from the Horgos comprehensive bonded area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Saturday, marking the launch of a "road-rail" multimodal freight train route linking Horgos in Xinjiang with Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
The new route integrates two different modes of transport. After arriving in the Horgos comprehensive bonded area via road transport, the cargo will then be transferred to freight trains, exit through railway crossing points, and ultimately arrive in Uzbekistan.
The new freight train route will significantly reduce logistic transit time and further facilitate the trade and economic exchanges between China and countries in central Asia.
With the new route in service, over 300,000 tons of steel are expected to be shipped to Central Asian countries next year, including Uzbekistan.
Horgos in northwest Xinjiang launches first road-rail freight train route to Uzbekistan
Grain enterprises across China have purchased 120 million tons of autumn grains recently, according to data from the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.
Provinces like Henan, Jiangsu, Heilongjiang, and Anhui have set up the minimum purchase price of middle- and late-season rice. Over 200 purchasing spots have been set up in these four provinces to facilitate grain farmers in selling their crops.
Currently the purchase of middle- and late-season indica rice in the southern region stands at around 40 to 50 percent, while in the northeast region, the purchase of japonica rice is around 20 percent. In the north and northeast China, purchase of corn stands at 20 percent to 30 percent, while that of soybeans is around 15 percent in northeastern region.
The average price of middle- and late-season rice is about 2.6 yuan per kilogram. With demand rising for animal feed, prices of corn and soybean are gradually recovering and stabilizing, boosting acquisition interest.
"Currently, the cumulative procurement of middle- and late-season rice at the minimum purchase price has exceeded 1.8 million tons, effectively stabilizing market expectations and ensuring reasonable grain prices," said Luo Shouquan, director of the grain reserve department of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.
Autumn grain purchases across China total 120 million tons
