Militzer & Münch launches Germany-to-China LCL rail service

Switzerland-based international transport and logistics firm Militzer & Münch (M&M) is the latest firm to add rail capacity between Europe and China with the addition of groupage transports of less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments. The service began in March between Duisburg, Germany, and Wuhan, China, in Hubei province.

Several other logistics providers added LCL rail service between Europe and China last year, including Kerry Logistics, Tigers and CEVA Logistics. The increase in rail traffic along the route follows the Chinese government’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative along the old Silk Road. The transport departs from Duisburg every Saturday and is routed via Malaszewicze, Poland, and Alashankou, China.

Most of the goods M&M have transported on the route so far include products from the automotive industry and other industrial sectors. Track-and-trace technology is available along the entire route, which takes 26 days total to move door-to-door from Duisburg to Wuhan – 18 of which included the rail transport portion of the route.

“The consolidation box service offers our customers the chance to increase their supply chains’ efficiency owing to savings in cost and time,” said Glenn Bai, managing director of Militzer & Münch China. “Seafreight transport takes over 45 days from Duisburg Port to the Port of Wuhan – which means going by rail saves as many as 27 days.” According to M&M, rail transport on the route is also about 70 percent less expensive than airfreight.