First Pakistani Chili Cargo Arrives in Chengdu via New Land-Sea Corridor
More than 80 metric tons of high-quality dried chilies from Pakistan have arrived at Chengdu International Railway Port, marking the opening of a transformative cross-border logistics route for agricultural products and injecting fresh momentum into China-Pakistan agricultural and trade cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The shipment, comprising eight containers, entered China through Qinzhou Port in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region before being transported to Chengdu via sea-rail intermodal service under the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. This represents the first shipment to arrive in China under an agricultural cooperation project associated with CPEC, signaling a new phase of bilateral collaboration beyond traditional infrastructure development.
The new route is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of chili transportation to southwest China, a region that ranks among the country's largest consumers of chili-based products. Unlike traditional routes, which typically bring imported chilies through northern ports—such as Qingdao—before distributing them to markets across the country, the new service transports cargo directly from Qinzhou Port to Chengdu, bypassing lengthy inland transshipment.
According to Chengdu International Railway Port Economic and Technological Development Zone Construction and Development Co., Ltd., the route can reduce overall logistics costs by approximately 1,000 yuan ($140) per metric ton while cutting transit times by seven to ten days. The cost and time efficiencies are expected to enhance the competitiveness of Pakistani agricultural products in the Chinese market, particularly as demand for premium dried chilies continues to rise.
Following the arrival of the first eight containers, more than 900 metric tons of additional Pakistani dried chilies are currently being shipped, with the service expected to move toward regular operations in the coming months. The transition to a scheduled service would establish a reliable, year-round supply chain for Pakistani chili exports to China.
Chengdu International Railway Port is seeking to leverage its strategic transportation advantages to expand trade and support industrial development. As a key node linking the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor with China-Europe freight train services, the port provides comprehensive facilities for cross-border logistics, bonded warehousing, distribution and trade. The port's integration into broader trade networks positions it as a critical gateway for agricultural imports entering southwest China.
Industry analysts note that China has three major chili distribution centers located in Qingdao, Henan and Guizhou. However, Sichuan and Chongqing—despite being major consumer markets with robust hotpot culture and condiment manufacturing—have long lacked a specialized, large-scale distribution hub. "The imported Pakistani chilies are being supplied to downstream industries, including major catering companies such as Haidilao, local hotpot restaurants and condiment producers, including manufacturers of Pixian Douban," said Li Jiarun, head of trade business at the development company, highlighting the direct linkage between the new trade route and the region's food processing ecosystem.
The project is helping build an integrated supply chain covering overseas cultivation, cross-border transportation, distribution, processing and final consumption. For Pakistan, the new route provides an additional channel for agricultural products to reach the lucrative Chinese market, diversifying export destinations and reducing reliance on traditional trade routes. For southwest China, it offers a more direct and cost-efficient supply of imported chilies to support the region's growing hotpot, condiment and food-processing industries.
The successful arrival of the Pakistani dried chilies marks another step in turning international transport corridors into platforms for trade and industrial cooperation, while strengthening links between Pakistani agricultural producers and China's regional food industry. As both countries look to deepen economic ties under the evolving CPEC framework, agricultural trade is emerging as a key pillar of bilateral cooperation, complementing traditional infrastructure and energy partnerships.