Xinjiang improves customs clearance efficiency for China-Europe freight trains

China-Europe freight trains parked at a railway station at Alashankou Port in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on March 29, 2019. [Photo: China Plus]

Customs at Alashankou Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has improved the clearance efficiency for the China-Europe freight trains, according to the customs.

Alashankou Port in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, seen here on March 30, 2019. [Photo: China Plus]

The clearance time for the inbound and outbound cargos were 18.5 hours and 0.77 hours, respectively, at the customs in May, 38.8 percent and 47.6 percent lower than the end of 2018, respectively.

Employees working at Alashankou Customs in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on March 30, 2019. [Photo: China Plus]

"We have set up special service windows for the freight trains to make sure the clearance can operate 24/7," said Wang Chuanjie, head of the customs.

The customs handled 851 China-Europe freight trains with 5.17 billion U.S. dollars worth of cargo from January to May, up 69.6 percent year on year.

An employee at Alashankou Customs examines a freight train at Alashankou Port in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on March 29, 2019. [Photo: China Plus]

Nearly 70 percent of China-Europe freight trains passed through the port by the end of 2018.