On June 30, 2025, a train loaded with 84 TEUs of Changan automobiles departed from the special line station of Chongqing Luohuan Port, and finally arrived at Peru’s Qiankai Port through the Western Land and Sea New Corridor.This marks the first time that the Western Land and Sea New Corridor connects to the Port of Chancay in Peru, which opens up a brand-new path for “Chongqing Cars Going to Sea” to enter the Latin American region.
Behind this special liner, reflecting the urgent need of China’s inland manufacturing industry to find a new channel to the sea, but also reveals the important position of the western region in the country’s opening up to the outside world in the new pattern.For ordinary people, the opening of this new channel means what?
一 23 days of sea transportation time behind the cost account
The Port of Chancay, officially opened on November 14, 2024, is invested and operated by COSCO Shipping, and is known as a landmark project of the “One Belt, One Road” jointly built by China and Peru.According to relevant data, after the opening of the port of Qiangai, the one-way sea transportation time between China and Peru will be shortened to about 23 days, and the logistics cost will be saved by more than 20%.
This figure is significant for automobile manufacturing workers in Chongqing.Chongqing, as an important national automobile industry base, Changan, Sailis and other car companies gathered, directly or indirectly drive hundreds of thousands of people employed.In the past, “Chongqing-made” cars to be exported to South America, the need to transit through the Yangtze River waterway to the sea, long time, high cost.Now through the western land and sea new channel, compared to take the Yangtze River waterway to the sea transit ASEAN and other regions, the transportation distance is significantly shortened, the sea logistics time can be compressed 25 days.
“With lower transportation costs, our products are more competitive in the international market, and with more orders, our jobs are more stable.”A Chang’an Automobile production line worker told reporters this.
二 From “difficult road to the sea” to “easy to go to the sea” transformation
Chongqing is located inland and used to face the geographical dilemma of “the road to Shu is more difficult than the sky”.However, the construction of the new western land and sea corridor has completely changed this situation.According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in the first two months of 2025, rail-sea intermodal cargo in the new western land-sea corridor amounted to 226,000 TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 61.3%.
This channel is not just a city of Chongqing’s welfare.The cargo transportation category of the new western land and sea corridor has increased to 1,234 kinds of goods, radiating to 158 stations in 73 cities of 18 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China, and reaching 556 ports in 127 countries and regions around the world.For the people in the western region, this means more employment opportunities, cheaper imported goods and more convenient foreign trade.
According to Li Minghua, an expert in regional economic research at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, “The construction of new land and sea corridors in the west is actually reshaping China’s opening-up pattern.In the past, we mainly relied on the eastern coastal areas, but now the western inland areas also have a ‘highway’ leading directly to the world.”
III. The “Wisdom Code” of Chankai Harbor
As the first smart port in South America, Chancellor Port’s technology is impressive.The port adopts the latest automated loading and unloading equipment, intelligent scheduling system and digital management platform.This kind of technology output is not just a simple copy of equipment and systems, but also a sharing of China’s manufacturing transformation and upgrading experience to the outside world.
The first phase of the Port of Chancay is expected to generate approximately US$4.5 billion in export revenues for Peru annually, creating more than 8,000 direct jobs.As of February 2025, the total amount of goods in the port area has exceeded US$292 million, contributing about US$50 million in tax revenue.Such figures show the pull of infrastructure development on the local economy.
For Chinese port construction and equipment manufacturing enterprises, the Qiankai Port project brings not only one-time income from equipment export, but also long-term technical service and operation and management cooperation.This model provides more opportunities for domestic workers in related industries to go abroad and participate in international projects.
IV. Industry chain effects behind automobile exports
“The export of Chongqing-made automobiles to Peru through the new channel may seem like a trade activity, but it actually involves the entire automobile industry chain.From steel, rubber, electronic components to logistics and transportation, each link will benefit from the increase in exports.
The development of Chongqing’s automobile industry epitomizes the transformation and upgrading of China’s manufacturing industry.Changan Automobile in recent years in the field of new energy vehicles to increase investment, Sailis and Huawei cooperation to launch intelligent cars, these innovative products through the western land and sea new channel to the world, not only is “Made in China” to “China to create” the transformation of the embodiment of the inland areas to participate in global competition.It is also an important way for inland areas to participate in global competition.
An automotive industry analyst said, “Auto exports are not just selling cars, but also exporting our technical standards, service system and brand value.Each exported car may lead to the subsequent supply of accessories, maintenance services and other long-term cooperation.”
五. New opportunities in Latin American markets
Peru is just a starting point for the Latin American market.The port of Chancay, which already has a transshipment rate of 30%, much higher than the 22% of Peru’s main port of Callao, is gradually developing into a regional hub that will not only serve South America, but will also radiate to Central America.
For the manufacturing industry in Chongqing and the entire western region, the Latin American market contains great opportunities.Latin American countries are in the process of industrialization and urbanization, with a strong demand for automobiles, machinery and equipment, and electronic products.Through the new path of Western Land and Sea Corridor – Qiankai Port, “Made in China” can reach Latin American consumers faster and cheaper.
However, the Latin American market also has its own peculiarities.Local regulations and standards, consumer habits, service requirements are different from China.This requires Chinese enterprises to make corresponding adjustments in technology research and development, product design, after-sales service, etc., which in turn will lead to employment and development in related fields.
六 Small Port Prying Big Patterns
Although the port of Qiangai is located in the corner of South America, its influence is spreading.A number of international shipping companies have opened new routes to the port of Qiangai, including well-known shipping companies such as France’s Duffy Shipping, China’s COSCO Shipping and Taiwan’s Evergreen.
This increase in routes is good news for China’s import and export trade.More routes mean more choices, more competition and, ultimately, lower transportation costs.For the average consumer, the price of imported goods may fall as a result, exporters will become more competitive and employment opportunities will increase.
Notably, the second phase of the Port of Qiangai is expected to start in 2027, with an additional investment of $2.5 billion expected, bringing the total investment to $3.5 billion to $4 billion.This continued investment demonstrates the long-term and stable nature of China-Latin America cooperation.
七 Demonstration effect of the corridor economy
The success of the new land and sea corridor in the west has provided development ideas for other inland regions.By building efficient logistics corridors, landlocked regions can overcome their geographical disadvantages and participate in the global division of labor and cooperation
In the first quarter of 2025, the total import and export value of “13+2” provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities along the new western land and sea corridors through the new corridors exceeded 200 billion yuan, an increase of more than 10% year-on-year, and the scale of the new record high.This data shows that the channel economy is becoming an important engine to promote the development of the western region.
八 The road may be far, but the journey will take you there.
From Chongqing to Peru, from 84 TEUs of automobile to the construction of new land and sea corridors in the west, what we see is a profound change in China’s opening pattern.The inland area is no longer the “backyard” of opening up, but has become an important node connecting the two domestic and international markets.
For ordinary people, this change brings not only increased employment opportunities and higher income levels, but also the opportunity to participate in the globalization process.Whether they are workers in Chongqing’s automobile factories, drivers engaged in logistics and transportation, or owners of small and micro-enterprises providing ancillary services, they are all likely to benefit from this new corridor.
Based on the available information, the author believes that the construction of the new western land and sea corridor and the operation of the port of Qiankai have opened a new chapter in China-Latin America cooperation.It is not only a trade corridor, but also a bridge connecting different civilizations and promoting common development.At a time when globalization is facing challenges, such a model of cooperation is particularly valuable.
