43 Billion Tonnes of Freight and 51 Billion Passenger Trips in 9 Months: China's Transport Sector Grows
China's transport sector maintained steady growth in the first nine months of 2026, with freight volumes, port throughput and cross-regional passenger traffic all rising year on year, according to data released by the Ministry of Transport on Monday.
Commercial freight volume reached 43.04 billion tonnes from January to September, up 2.3% from the same period last year. In September alone, the figure increased by 1.3% year on year.
Several new shipping routes serving automobile exports, trade with ASEAN countries and shipments to Europe were launched this year, supporting port operations and cargo handling.
Total cargo throughput at Chinese ports reached 13.64 billion tonnes in the first three quarters, up 0.7% year on year. Foreign trade cargo throughput increased by 2.9%, while container throughput rose 4.5% to 280 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Holiday travel continued to support passenger demand throughout the year. Various regions introduced specialized tourist rail services to meet travelers' diverse preferences. Passenger traffic on international civil aviation routes also increased by 4.7% year on year.
China recorded 51.22 billion cross-regional passenger trips in the first nine months, an increase of 1.2% from a year earlier. The number of such trips rose by 5.1% year on year in September.
"The transport economy continued to advance steadily in the first three quarters, with major indicators maintaining growth and transformation and upgrading progressing steadily, reflecting the resilience and vitality of China's economy," said Chen Jing, chief engineer of the Transport Planning and Research Institute under the Ministry of Transport.
According to CCTV+, the figures point to continued growth in China's freight and passenger transport, alongside ongoing efforts to modernize the sector.
