How-to & Troubleshooting
Do you agree with cross-border e-commerce sellers that rail transport is cheaper than road transport? Here’s my view:For large‑volume goods exported to Europe, China–Europe Railway Express is indeed cheaper than road transport for bulk cargo. But for small shipments and short domestic distances, road transport is cheaper.
We’ve prepared a set of data below for your comparison, so you can choose the most suitable transport mode for your business.
| Route | Rail (China–Europe Express) | Road (Truck) | Which is Cheaper? |
|---|---|---|---|
| China → Europe | 300–500 RMB/CBM, 1.8–3.0 RMB/kg | 400–600 RMB/CBM, 2.4–3.6 RMB/kg | Rail: 20%–40% cheaper |
| China → Central Asia | 200–400 RMB/CBM, 1.2–2.4 RMB/kg | 300–500 RMB/CBM, 1.8–3.0 RMB/kg | Rail: 30%–50% cheaper |
Dimension Comparison
| Dimension | Road Transport | Rail Transport | Which is Cheaper? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Charged by ton-kilometer, full truck or LTL, including loading/unloading and short-distance delivery: 1.5–2.5 RMB/ton-km | Basic rate: 0.8–1.8 RMB/ton-km, plus loading, handling, and storage fees; total: 1.0–2.0 RMB/ton-km | Rail for long‑haul bulk; Road for short‑haul / small shipments |
| Suitable Scenarios | Short distances under 500 km, small batches, frequent deliveries, fresh/urgent goods, flexible door-to-door | Long distances over 1000 km, bulk cargo (coal, building materials, machinery), stable volume, FCL container transport | Rail for long‑haul bulk; Road for short‑haul / LTL |
| Cost Advantage | Lower cost per km for short distances (<500 km), no transloading loss | Total cost 30%–40% lower for long distances (>1000 km), strong economies of scale | Rail for long distances; Road for short distances |
Strengths of rail transport: long distance, large cargo volume, high capacity.
Strengths of road transport: short distance, small batches, flexible door-to-door service.
Rail transport is cheaper and the best choice for cross-border sellers.Road transport is cheaper for domestic businesses.
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