CFR Rinkens launches first China-Germany blocktrain for Dongfeng

Freight forwarder CFR Rinkens has made its first westbound rail shipment of containerised vehicles between China and Germany. One hundred Fengon Glory SUVs made by China’s Dongfeng Motor were shipped in 36 containers in cooperation with Chinese rail operator Yuxinou Logistics. The train left Chongqing in mid-April, just as the region was relaxing restrictions put in place to control Covid-19, and arrived in the northern automotive logistics hub of Bremerhaven on May 6, where CFR has its own processing facility.

“We are especially proud of this successful project launch during very challenging times both in China and Europe,” said Alan So, Sales Director at CFR Rinkens Automotive Logistics, CFR’s Chinese subsidiary. Dongfeng plans to ship one block train per month with three SUVs per 40-foot high cube container and CFR is using Trans-Rak International’s R-Rak racking system to safely load the vehicles into the containers.

Total transit time from Chongqing to Bremerhaven is 18 days as the train passes through western China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and northern Germany. That compares to an ocean shipment that can take anything up to 50 days door-to-door. CFR is already loading vehicles into containers for rail shipment from Bremerhaven to locations in China.

“Bremerhaven and Chongqing are positioning themselves as primary hubs for containerised vehicle shipments on the Silk Road, which is why CFR set up operations in both cities,” said So. “And balancing traffic both ways is key. We get closer to that goal by launching this westbound train.”

Uwe Jablonski, CEO of Indimo Automotive, the official importer of Dongfeng Sokon (DFSK) and other Chinese brands in Germany pointed out that while freight cost for Silk Road rail shipments was still about double the cost of the traditional ro-ro mode, the faster delivery had a positive impact on cash flow. “We expect westbound rail costs to come down as more goods move both ways on the Silk Road,” Jablonski added.