A freight train carrying 22 standard containers loaded with 10.95 million yuan worth of commodities departs from Toumengang port in the county-level city of Linhai in Taizhou on Feb 28 for Europe. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

A freight train carrying 22 standard containers loaded with 10.95 million yuan ($1.68 million) worth of commodities departed from Toumengang port in the county-level city of Linhai in Taizhou on Feb 28 for Europe.

The train's departure marked the opening of an additional freight route linking Taizhou with Europe.

The train will travel a distance of 11,267 kilometers before arriving in Duisburg, Germany, 23 days later.

The goods on board are primarily products manufactured by Taizhou. The products, which include new energy vehicle parts, electric bicycle parts, leisure goods and plumbing pipe parts, will be sold to countries including Germany, France, Poland, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom.

Given high sea transportation costs, rail transportation will help enterprises slash costs and expand market overseas, according to a staff member at Zhejiang Transportation Group.

Taizhou Baida Electric Appliance Co Ltd, which exports about 40 percent of its auto parts to Europe, is among the first batch of beneficiaries of the newly launched freight route.

According to Chen Mei, head of foreign trade at the company, the route's opening will reduce the shipping time required from the original 35 to 40 days by sea to 23 to 25 days.

Acting mayor Wu Xiaodong pointed out at the launch ceremony that the route will help cement the city's economic and trade links with countries involved in the Belt and Road, bolster the local private sector and allow the city to become a player in the national "dual-circulation" development pattern.

Europe and Central Asia are among Taizhou's largest trading partners.

In 2021, Taizhou's trade volume with Europe and Central Asia was valued at 77.18 billion yuan, accounting for 32.2 percent of the city's total.