Alashankou is the most efficient - it takes 3-5 days to reload generally while at Khorgos it takes 5-7 days in average; in terms of Manzhouli the reloading time in Manzhouli is about 7 days.

In the European-bound lines, the fastest record from domestic stations to Mala is 11 days, 15-21 days to Duisburg, and about 24-26 days to Milan; in the Russian direction, a faster train can reach Moscow in 12-15 days, usually 16-25 days. It takes about 22 days from domestic stations to Minsk and 24 days to Selyatino.

The supply of spaces and freight rates for each route are as follows:

European route:

Westbound trips - The supply and demand are stable, and most of the spaces on various platforms are scheduled until around mid-November. The spaces in Chengdu is still very popular. which have been scheduled to the beginning of December. That advantage of price continues. In Chongqing they are only available after the 10th. Suzhou plans to run a train in November, which is expected to depart on the 20th. Jinhua maintains a weekly frequency and plans to dispatch a train every Saturday. Generally speaking, the booking prices at each terminal have not fluctuated much compared with the past week. In comparison, the prices at Jinan are slightly more advantageous in East and North China, but there are restrictions on cargoes.

Eastbound trips - The space on returned journey is relatively sufficient, and all platforms have schedules in November. Eastbound trains running from Mala, Munich, Duisburg, Hamburg, Budapest, Liege, Milan and other places have extra spaces every week. Depending on the quantity and varieties of cargoes received, shipping plans should be adjusted accordingly. More attentions need to be paid when making arrangements.

Russian route: 

The booking prices released by various platforms have basically remained stable. The number of spaces released in Chongqing, Xi'an, Hefei and other stations in November is stable and so are the prices. The spot freight rate stayed within 6,000 US dollars. The supply in Chengdu continues to be tightened. There are basically no spaces left for Minsk in late Nov. Recently, trains departing from Erenhot at Zengcheng, Datian and other stations in South China have also experienced small-scale "crash". Industry insiders analyzed that the reduction in shipment plans and insufficient capacity are the main reasons.

Central Asia route: 

Transport demand is weak and volumes are small. There are still some spaces that can be booked in early November. The trains from Zhengzhou and Xi'an to Central Asia have abundant schedules and stable departures, making them the first choice  in East and North China. As the temperature drops, snowy weather gradually shows an impact  on truck transportation, and the cost for "rail+truck" transport mode is expected to grow.

Article source: Cargo Talk