Direct train carries Austrian Tencel fibres to China

20 Aug '20

2 min read

From L-R: Stefan Doboczky, Erich Hampel, Leonore Gewessler, Erwin Cootjans, Xiaosi Li, and Thomas Kargl. Pic: Lenzing AG / Scheiblecker

The Lenzing Group stands for the ecologically responsible production of specialty fibres made from renewable raw material wood. Due to high demand from Chinese brands and retailers for sustainably produced fibres, Lenzing has sent fibres from two Austrian production sites Lenzing and Heiligenkreuz directly to customers in China by train for the first time.

Austria's first complete train with goods exclusively “Made in Austria” left the Vienna South Terminal towards China on August 20, 2020 at 11 am. The train is loaded with Lenzing fibres and provided by Nunner Logistics.

The train, which started at Vienna, has 41 containers with Tencel branded Lyocell and Modal fibres with a total value of €1.8 million. On its 16-day trip to Shanghai, the train will cover a total of 10,460 kilometres and pass seven countries: Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and China.

“With this new transport route, we can meet the high demand from our customers for sustainably produced fibres more quickly. Thanks to train transport, the urgently needed fibres arrive at our customers in China twice as quickly as by sea freight,” said Stefan Doboczky, CEO of the Lenzing Group.

Lenzing has had very good experiences with rail transport for a long time when it comes to delivering the renewable raw material wood to its plants. Almost 70 percent of the wood processed at the Lenzing site is already delivered by rail, the company said in a media release.

“Our declared goal is to shift more freight traffic to rail. Rail is the only way to combine climate goals and economic interests and thus transport growth. That is why we are happy to be part of this unique project for our long-standing customer,” said Thomas Kargl, board member of the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group.

“Transporting goods by rail to China is possible. And this train from Vienna to China is an integral part of climate protection. We want to support the shift from road to rail, especially in freight transport. Today's train is the first step – I am convinced this train will set an example,” said Leonore Gewessler, Austrian minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology.

In addition to Doboczky, Kargl, and Gewessler, Chinese Ambassador in Austria Xiaosi Li, Nunner Logistics CEO Erwin Cootjans, and Erich Hampel, chairman of the board of the B&C Private Foundation, took part in the departure ceremony in strict compliance with the COVID-19 protective measures.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)

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