In the first two months of 2025, a total of 35 new air cargo routes linking China with other markets were added, with the ones to Europe accounting for the largest share at 19 routes, according to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP). At least 73 round-trip flights have been added each week. The main cargo types include cross-border e-commerce goods, fresh produce, electronics and auto parts. Cross-border e-commerce has emerged as the dominant model, with increasing demand for faster delivery times. “This is a clear indication that China's industrial upgrading is yielding tangible results, with high-tech and high-value-added products gaining broader global popularity," Li Sheng, Deputy Secretary of the Aviation Logistics Committee of the CFLP, told the Global Times. With the shifting international trade landscape, businesses are also actively adapting their sales and distribution strategies to meet new demand. The growth in logistics infrastructure highlights Chinese businesses' ability to better align with global market needs, reinforcing China's role in the international supply chain, Li added.
Ezhou Huahu International Airport in Central China's Hubei Province – Asia's first professional cargo hub airport – in January launched routes to European destinations, including Paris, Frankfurt, Budapest and Milan. Cargo transported on these routes are mainly cross-border e-commerce goods, high-end accessories, precision instruments, electronics, light luxury clothing and red wine. In addition to Ezhou, cities such as Chengdu in Sichuan province and Xian in Shaanxi province are actively expanding their international air cargo networks, opening new routes to Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Debrecen in Hungary.
“This growth in the number of air cargo routes to Europe is significant – it shows that both sides are actively seeking to strengthen trade ties,” Jian Junbo, Deputy Director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times. This underscores the deep interdependence between the two Chinese and European markets, as demand for Chinese products remains strong in Europe, Jian said. According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China-EU bilateral trade grew by 1.6% in 2024.
