○ On April 7, Incheon Port Authority (www.icpa.or.kr, president: Jun-wook Choi) has announced that it will commence marketing activities to expand the Incheon Port Sea & Rail Combined Freight service to generate container port traffic by diversifying the Incheon Port logistics model.

○ Incheon Port Sea & Rail Combined Freight is a service that transports car ferry cargo between Incheon and China to various destinations in China, Russia, and Central Asia through the Trans China Railway (TCR), Trans Manzhouli Railway (TMR), and Trans Mongolian Railway (TMGR).

○ According to the IPA, the container port traffic for Incheon Port Sea & Rail Combined Freight service, which utilizes the five-car ferry routes of Incheon Port (▴Dandong, ▴Yingkou, ▴Qingdao, ▴Weihai, ▴Lianyungang) was 6,237 TEU. While this is not a significant portion of Incheon Port’s total container port traffic,

○ Incheon Port Sea & Rail Combined Freight service offers lower freight costs and approximately a 30% reduction in transit time, which is the main reason that this service is consistently used by shippers and forwarders. The main cargo exported includes used cars and food products, and the main cargo imported includes electronics and general merchandise.

○ First, IPA is planning to strengthen its partnerships with Xi’an International Trade & Logistics Park and Shandong Port Group Co., Ltd. for the efficient connection of port-land combined freight and to increase cargo port traffic.

Xi’an International Trade & Logistics Park Management Committee: A national institution located in Xi’an, China that manages the transshipment of cargo from China to Eurasia as well as port and hinterland operation.

** Shandong Port Group Co., Ltd.: A state-owned enterprise of Shandong that operates 18 ports including Qingdao Port, Yantai Port, and Port of Weihai.

○ IPA is also planning to strengthen its partnerships with major domestic forwarders and the Korea Used Car Export Association while expanding the use of rail transport towards Central Asia for the efficient export of major cargo in used cars for Incheon Port Sea & Rail Combined Freight.

○ IPA Vice President of Operation Division Jong-gil Kim stated, “The utility of the Trans China Railway (TCR) will be even greater with the suspension of the Trans Siberian Railway (TSR) supply network due to the war in Ukraine,” adding “We will continue to work toward making Incheon Port a leader in combined freight through our combined freight service connected to car ferries and rails such as TCR.”

※Photograph dex-scription (attached)

= Incheon Port Sea & Rail Combined Freight Guide Map / Provider = Incheon Port Authority