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Freight Rail Transport in China Industry Data and Analysis
The Freight Rail Transport industry is expected to generate $76.3 billion in 2024, up by 3.2% from 2023. Over the five years to 2024, industry revenue is expected to increase at a CAGR of 9.7%. In 2024, approximately 19 establishments operate in the industry, employing about 255,220 workers and paying total wages of $9.9 billion. In 2023, the freight transportation turnover by railway increased by 1.4%, to 3.6 trillion ton-kilometers, representing 14.7% of the total freight transportation turnover in China . Profit is expected to account for 7.5% of industry revenue in 2024. The Chinese Government has invested heavily to expand the railway network. The Government spent over $100 billion annually on railway construction in the past decade to 2023. By the end of 2023, the length of China's railways in operation had reached 159,000 kilometers, among which the length of high-speed railways in operation has reached 45,000 kilometers, China's railway transportation capacity increased greatly.In 2013, the railway freight transportation turnover only accounted for less than 2% of total social freight transportation turnover in China, and the proportion increased to 14.7% in 2023. With stable development of economy, railway transportation will give full play to its advantages in reducing social logistics costs. With the further market-oriented reform of railway freight transportation, railway transportation will make greater contribution to reducing social logistics costs.Over the next five years to 2029, the Chinese Government will open the railway construction industry to more private and foreign investment. The only industry operator, China Railway, will also implement reforms to rail transport pricing. These reforms could significantly affect the industry, as freight transport pricing is currently market driven. ACMR-IBISWorld forecasts that industry revenue will increase at a CAGR of 4.5% to reach $94.9 billion in 2029.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Freight Rail Transport industry in China includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2014-2029. The most recent publication was released November 2024.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Freight Rail Transport industry in China operates under the industry code 5120. The Freight Rail Transport industry in China operates railways for the transportation of freight across China. The industry comprises state-owned railways as well as local railways (invested and operated by local governments) for transferring freight or cargo. The management and operation of railway terminals and station facilities is not included in this industry. Related terms covered in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China include electrified railways, double-track railways and rolling stock.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Freight Rail Transport industry in China include Medium-distance transportation of freight , Long-distance transportation of freight and Short-distance transportation of freight .
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China include China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Freight Rail Transport industry in China.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Freight Rail Transport industry in China.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Freight Rail Transport industry in China.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Freight Rail Transport industry in China in 2026?
The market size of the Freight Rail Transport industry in China is $76.3bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China in 2024?
There are 1 businesses in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
How may import tariffs affect the Freight Rail Transport industry in China?
The Freight Rail Transport industry in China is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Freight Rail Transport industry in China?
The Freight Rail Transport industry in China is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Freight Rail Transport industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Freight Rail Transport industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 9.7 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Freight Rail Transport industry in China over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Freight Rail Transport industry in China is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China?
The biggest company operating in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China is China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.
What does the Freight Rail Transport industry in China include?
Short-distance transportation of freight and Medium-distance transportation of freight are part of the Freight Rail Transport industry in China.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China?
The company holding the most market share in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China is China State Railway Group Co., Ltd..
How competitive is the Freight Rail Transport industry in China?
The level of competition is low and increasing in the Freight Rail Transport industry in China.
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