Two containers of Loudi-made slit steel coil products, weighing 59.1 tonnes and worth 38,000 USD, were packed at the production factory, transported by rail to the Huaihua International Land Port for consolidation, and loaded into a China-Vietnam cross-border train bound for Yen Vien Station in Vietnam on November 2, 2026. This marked a breakthrough in the specialized railway cross-border transportation model for bulk metallurgical materials from Huaihua International Land Port to ASEAN.

This delivery was the first time that the Huaihua International Land Port has used the flat rack coil containers for cross-border steel coil transportation. Currently, Hunan is building Huaihua into a freight consolidation center for ASEAN. This shipment has established an integrated logistics chain of "departure from the Loudi factory - consolidation and marshalling at the Huaihua International Land Port - customs clearance at the Pingxiang Port - distribution at Yen Vien, Vietnam," opening a new southbound cross-border rail transport path for steel cargo.

Slit steel coils are a new steel product widely applicable to automobile manufacturing, home appliance manufacturing, and many other fields. Steel coil is a highly competitive export industrial product from Hunan, and its transportation has stringent standards for loading and securing, protection against collision, deformation, and moisture. The flat rack coil container relies on dedicated saddle structures, rubber cushioning protection, and standardized tarpaulin protection solutions to provide reliable load-bearing support for the goods.

On October 30, the slit steel coil products are loaded into a flat rack coil container inside the factory. (Photo/Lei Mingxiong)

In addition, this cross-border rail transport will reduce transit time from the original 30 days by river-sea intermodal transport to 15 days. This is compatible with fully mechanized loading and unloading processes throughout the rail, port, and overseas segments. This will enable the cargo to be loaded at the factory and transported directly via the main railway line to the final destination in Vietnam. The containers will be delivered throughout the entire route without being unloaded, transshipped, or unpacked, thereby promoting the transition from bulk to containerized transport for bulk cargo.

The first departure of the flat rack coil container has validated a new cross-border logistics model that relies on specialized logistics equipment. This directly connects port corridors and efficiently consolidates hubs to form a collaborative closed loop. The "one container all the way" cross-border rail transport solution can operate on a regular basis, providing a replicable and promotable containerized transport paradigm for Hunan's inland industrial product exports to ASEAN, and consolidating a stable land route for the circulation of intermediate products in the China-Vietnam industrial chain.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang 

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn