Recently, the first train carrying Xinjiang Coal No.5 from the Hongshaquan Coal Mine of Xinjiang Energy was dispatched by China Shenhua’s Trading Group Xinjiang Branch from Jinquan Station in Inner Mongolia, bound for Huanghua Port. This marks the full implementation of the integrated rail-to-water coal business for Xinjiang coal, adding a strategic corridor to the outbound railway-sea intermodal transport network.
Since March of 2026, due to persistently tight railway capacity from the Urumqi Railway Bureau, the overall outbound shipment of Xinjiang Energy’s coal has fallen short of targets. The Trading Group Xinjiang Branch seized a favorable market opportunity, closely monitored market changes, and proactively engaged with Xinjiang Energy Company to advance the integrated rail-to-water coal shipment for Xinjiang coal. Through joint efforts and targeted measures, they secured a favorable policy granting a 30% reduction in railway freight on self-owned lines, significantly lowering total logistics costs, and achieved dual improvements in quality and efficiency by leveraging the prevailing price advantages at port markets. Meanwhile, the Xinjiang Branch conducted a comprehensive assessment of upstream shipping cost factors, refined the shipping plan, and ensured closed-loop, full-process operational streamlining. They established a new multimodal transport corridor combining truck, rail, and sea, effectively alleviating rail bottlenecks through truck feeder services at the upstream end. In close coordination with Xinjiang Energy Trading Company, they refined each link of loading and dispatch, ensuring the smooth delivery of the first train of rail-to-water coal.
The successful launch of this new outbound transport corridor has opened up an intermodal route connecting the Xinjiang mining area, the integrated railway trunk line, Huanghua Port, and the North China hinterland, representing a key strategic breakthrough in expanding the Xinjiang coal outbound market.
