The port of Duisburg has served as a key European terminus of the CRE since rail service began operations in 2011 and has played an active role in the expansion of this rail freight connection.

FRANKFURT, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The China-Europe Railway Express (CRE) has become an essential part of multimodal logistics between China and Europe, demonstrating its flexibility and resilience during periods of global supply chain disruption, the chief executive officer of Germany's Duisburger Hafen AG (Duisport) has said.

As a supplement to maritime and air freight, the "rail connections between China and Europe have become an established component of multimodal logistics solutions," Markus Bangen told Xinhua in a written interview.

The port of Duisburg has served as a key European terminus of the CRE since rail service began operations in 2011 and has played an active role in the expansion of this rail freight connection.

"The CRE has evolved from irregular departures into a scheduled service," Bangen said, noting that in 2026, several trains pass through Duisburg daily on their routes between Central Europe and China.

He said demand for China-Europe rail freight surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as maritime transport faced severe disruptions and global supply chains came under strain. Many customers continued using rail services after the pandemic because they proved reliable, he added.

Since the China-Europe Railway Express was launched under a unified brand in 2016, the number of annual train journeys has increased nearly twelvefold, from 1,702 in 2016 to 20,022 in 2025, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

Bangen said the rail freight connection extends the port of Duisburg's network into Asia and gives Asian customers efficient access to its intermodal distribution network across Europe. "In doing so, it supports smoother trade flows and strengthens Duisburg's connectivity as a European logistics hub," he added.

Last year, Duisport inaugurated the Chengdu-Europe Express and signed a memorandum of understanding with Xi'an International Inland Port Group, signalling a broader trend toward strengthening connectivity with major Chinese cities.

Bangen said the experience gained through the CRE could also support the development of new routes, including the Southern Corridor, which now offers significant potential to improve transit times and reliability.

Despite rising geopolitical tensions, the Duisburg port remains focused on "providing reliable, needs-based solutions to its customers and contractual partners," Bangen said, noting efforts to expand routes, improve resilience and establish additional links between Europe and Asia.

Over the past decade, the development of the China-Europe Railway Express has deepened exchanges between Duisburg and China.

"Duisburg has become more visible in China, while we have also gained a deeper understanding of Chinese cities, partners and markets."