Hunan–Guangdong–Africa Rail-Sea Link Surpasses 2,000 Voyages, Boosting Sino-African Trade Flows

The intermodal rail-sea transport service connecting Hunan, Guangdong and Africa has surpassed 2,000 train departures, confirming the growing strategic importance of this logistics corridor between central China and African markets.

On 11 February, a train loaded with auto parts departed from Hunan province, bound for Guangdong, where its cargo was transferred to vessels heading to Africa. This latest operation brings the total number of trips completed since the service was launched in 2021 to more than 2,000.

A Logistics Bridge Between Inland China and Over 30 African Countries

Designed to streamline the movement of goods from central and western China to international markets, the rail-sea corridor now serves more than 30 African countries.

Departing from Zhuzhou in Hunan, cargo is transported to ports in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area before being shipped to Africa. In 2025, Hunan exported 58,299 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) to Africa, marking a 23.9% year-on-year increase and highlighting the steady growth of trade flows.

Shorter Transit Times, Stronger Competitiveness

Logistics optimization has been a key driver of the corridor’s success. Transit time between Zhuzhou and the Port of Nansha has been reduced from 72 hours to just 20 hours.

On the maritime leg, shipping time from Zhuzhou to Kenya’s Port of Mombasa has been shortened from 35 days to 23 days. These improvements enhance the competitiveness of Chinese exporters while increasing the corridor’s appeal to African importers.

Upgrading the Cargo Mix

Originally focused on light and small-scale goods, the service has gradually shifted toward higher value-added manufactured products, including:

• automotive parts and vehicles
• construction machinery and equipment
• agricultural machinery
• ceramic products from Liling
• new energy vehicles

African demand for “Made in China” products continues to rise, particularly for consumer goods. Porcelain products have recorded especially strong growth. In Uganda, for instance, 10-inch porcelain plates imported from Hunan have become best-sellers among local retailers.

Growing Two-Way Trade

The corridor is not a one-way route. China also imports African goods through the same logistics channel. Products such as cassava flour and dried longans are now entering the Chinese market, further strengthening trade ties between China and Africa.

A Strategic Lever for Sino-African Supply Chains

Beyond operational performance, the Hunan–Guangdong–Africa rail-sea service illustrates the growing importance of intermodal transport solutions in structuring trade corridors between Asia and Africa.

Amid rising trade volumes, this logistics route is reinforcing the integration of Sino-African supply chains while consolidating southern China’s port hubs as key gateways to African markets.

By the editorial team of Logis-T Africa