SIMIC

Final destination is the Port of Nansha, attached to Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, where the block train arrived at the end of June, reports the American Journal of Transportation.

"We have tailored a solution for an important chemical company, integrating various transport modes to provide them high flexibility as well as reliability to transport their chemical products," said Maersk's intermodal chief Javier Marin, south west Europe .

Transporting chemical cargo needs extra dedication as it requires high levels of complexity. Intercontinental rail is a good choice and can add value and alternative solution to chemicals supply chain, securing greater resilience.

For this first of its kind eastbound block train from Southern West Europe to Asia, Maersk has partnered with RTSB, the leading railway operator along the Eurasian corridor.

Said Maersk product manager James Seale: "This block train has been able to stand by its schedule, delivery times and swift transit clearance on time, creating firm ground for further expansion of transcontinental transit. We are currently working on arranging another one to Shanghai."

China will boost trade despite June exports beating expectations

CHINA's import and export growth beat expectations in June, bolstered by an easing of the Covid scare in major economies and government policies to support domestic demand, according to data from the General Administration of Customs, reported Caixin.

China's Ministry of Commerce outlined measures to provide more support for foreign trade amid concerns that growth will eventually slow and as tensions with major trading partners including the US continue to fester.

The government will introduce targeted policies to help alleviate the difficulties faced by enterprises and "fully stabilise foreign trade and foreign investment," assistant Minister of Commerce Ren Hongbin told a press conference.

Exports jumped by 32.2 per cent year on year to US$281.4 billion, the highest value since December 2020, customs data showed. The increase far outpaced the median forecast for 22 per cent year-on-year growth in a Caixin survey of economists and compared with a 27.9 per cent gain in May.