The Xiamen International Logistics Port in Fujian province has achieved sea-railway combined transportation, greatly improving its efficiency in transportation, Xiamen Daily reported on Aug 16.

The achievement was marked by the setting off of a new Xiamen-Ganzhou (Nankang) sea-railway combined cargo train, carrying 60 containers of imported timber, on Aug 15.

Nankang district in Ganzhou, Jiangxi province, is China's main timber distribution center. Over 5 million cubic meters (150,000 TEU) of timber is imported from Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries every year, accounting for 70 percent of all domestic imports.

Previously, the timber was mainly imported by sea and then taken to Nankang by truck.

At the end of 2016, an agreement was signed between Xiamen Port Authority, Xiamen Port Holding Group, Nankang government and various companies to work together on a sea-railway combined transportation business.

An insider said that it is the strong handling capacity of the international logistics port and the convenient freight trains between Xiamen and Nankang that guarantee steadiness, efficiency, and the cost effectiveness of sea-railway combined transportation.

The launch of such sea-railway combined transportation is regarded as a win-win for Xiamen's logistics industry as well as Nankang's furniture industry.

The cargo on the sea-railway combined transportation route also benefits from fast clearance supported by the entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau in Xiamen and Ganzhou, saving at least four days.

According to the local authority, one sea-railway combined freight train will be arranged each week in the early stages to satisfy Nankang's annual needs of imported timber.

Later, the port plans to connect Xiamen's Haicang railway branch to further improve the collection and distribution capacity in Haicang port area. The annual delivery capacity is expected to reach 20 million tons.

Since being put into operation last year, the Xiamen International Logistics Port has been dedicated to promoting sea-rail combined transportation by integrating Xiamen's wharfs, freight railways, and transshipping facilities.

The port's cargo handling capacity exceeded 170,000 tons in the first half of 2017.