DB Cargo establishes subsidiary DB Cargo Transasia

DB Cargo Transasia strengthens DB’s presence in China with a new subsidiary, DB Cargo Transasia. The new company’s headquarters is in Shanghai. Proximity to customers and new products are expected to drive growth in rail transport between Europe and China. Currently, DB operates traffic between Asia and Europe on ten routes.

(Berlin/Shanghai) Climate-friendly and reliable transport via rail freight is becoming increasingly important for global supply chains. Therefore, demand on the “New Silk Road,” the rail route between Europe and China, is booming. With the establishment of “DB Cargo Transasia” in Shanghai, Europe’s largest freight railway significantly enhances its offerings in the Far East. DB Cargo is the only provider that can link the traffic of the New Silk Road with the European DB Cargo network. This means direct train connections to 18 European countries. In China, DB Cargo Transasia can offer various services and solutions around the more than 10,000-kilometer-long supply chain faster and from a single source.

The attractiveness of the rail route will continue to increase. Transport on the trans-Eurasian corridor is significantly faster than by container ship and costs only one-tenth of comparable air freight.

Expanded role as a strong partner

This year, the DB company has opened several new routes between China and Europe, most recently at the end of September the new connection Shanghai – Hamburg – Shanghai. DB Cargo Eurasia is currently handling traffic over more than ten routes.

In 2020, China was Germany’s most important trading partner for the fifth consecutive year. According to industry estimates, more than 12,000 trains were operating on the Eurasian corridor in 2020. The growth rate was recently at an increase of 3,000 trains per year. Accordingly, DB also aims to further increase its transport capacities – from more than 200,000 containers (TEU) on the Eurasian corridor in 2020 to 500,000 containers by 2025. This is ecologically and economically sensible: The freight train causes about 95 percent less CO2 emissions compared to airplanes and almost 80 to 100 percent less than comparable road transport.

New management team

To further tap into its potential, DB Cargo Eurasia has restructured. Since September of this year, Andreas Lübs has been the new CEO of the company. On December 1, Tabea Klang will take over the position of Managing Director Sales (CSO).

Andreas Lübs has been working for DB Cargo Eurasia since 2018 and has been instrumental in the development and expansion of the business on the Eurasian corridor. Before being appointed CEO, he served as the company’s CFO.

Tabea Klang gained important professional experience with the OECD in Central Asia as well as during her studies in Moscow. From her role as Senior Advisor to the Executive Board of Freight Transport at Deutsche Bahn AG / Chairwoman of DB Cargo AG, she brings extensive knowledge of the DB Group. Additionally, she speaks five languages, providing her with excellent qualifications to further advance the global network and international business of DB Cargo AG as CSO.

Photo: © DB Cargo