China's Guangxi sends first full-load alumina container train to Xinjiang

Operated by the Baise office of the Nanning Railway Logistics Center under China Railway Nanning Group, the train consists of 84 containers and is scheduled to arrive at Sanping Station in Urumqi, Xinjiang, in ten days, the report said. The new train service establishes a direct logistics corridor linking Guangxi's alumina production bases with Xinjiang's energy-rich industrial bases.

Located in the western part of Guangxi, Baise is one of China's key aluminum industry hubs, boasting rich bauxite resources and high alumina output. The city holds 732 million tonnes of proven bauxite reserves, accounting for about one quarter of the national total. In 2024, Baise produced 11.75 million tonnes of alumina, representing approximately 13.1% of the country's total output, according to Guangxi Daily. Alumina is a key raw material for producing primary aluminum.

Xinjiang is a major base for China's primary aluminum production, drawing on its abundant energy resources and lower electricity costs. In 2024, the region produced about 6.42 million tonnes of primary aluminum or 14.5% of the national total, according to publicly available data.

Previously, alumina shipments from Baise to Xinjiang relied mainly on highway transport, which was costlier, less efficient, and limited in shipment volume. Road transport was also susceptible to uncertainties caused by weather and road conditions.

In recent years, Baise has been promoting a shift toward low-carbon, green logistics by transitioning alumina transportation from road to rail. With the adoption of containerized rail transport and integrated logistics solutions, railway shipments have risen significantly. So far this year, alumina transported by rail from Baise East Station to Xinjiang has reached 376,500 tonnes, already exceeding the full-year total for 2024.