Xinjiang Railways Fast-Track Cotton Transport To Meet Soaring Demand
The railway department in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has ramped up logistics operations to ensure faster and more efficient transportation of cotton, responding to a surge in market demand and a strong harvest season.
As one of China’s key cotton-producing regions, Xinjiang has already transported over 207,800 tons of cotton since October. The region’s upgraded rail logistics network now plays a critical role in moving cotton from farms and processing centers to domestic and international buyers.
Bazhou, a major cotton hub in Xinjiang, has become the focal point for enterprises involved in cotton processing, sales, and rail logistics. “Due to strong demand, we have less than 1,000 tons of last year’s cotton left in storage. What we’re shipping now is entirely from this year’s harvest,” said Zhang Qing, a manager at a local logistics company.
Xinjiang’s cotton industry benefits from large-scale mechanized farming, high-tech agricultural practices, and favorable geography, all of which have contributed to higher-quality cotton and increased output this year. With limited carry-over stock from previous seasons, market demand is now being met with fresh cotton.
To keep pace, the Xinjiang railway department has optimized warehousing, expanded transportation capacity, and introduced systems that track customer needs more precisely. “We prioritize the dispatch of empty railcars for cotton transport to minimize wait times and help businesses remain competitive,” explained Gong Peipei, a representative of the Korla Transport Center.
Further streamlining the process, the railway authorities have partnered with the China National Cotton Exchange and local cotton enterprises to shift from road-based to rail-based transport. This “highway-to-rail” transition is supported by one-stop logistics services that ensure seamless, efficient delivery of cotton from warehouses to buyers.
