On October 28, a freight train loaded with new energy vehicles produced in Anhui slowly departed from Hefei's Paihe Port Station. Meanwhile, at Huangshan Railway Freight Station, workers operated heavy machinery to load export containers.

Logistics serves as the "lifeblood" of the real economy, connecting production and consumption, domestic trade, and foreign trade. Anhui, strategically located as a bridge between China's eastern and western regions, has long been a transportation hub. With ambitions to become a key link between the Yangtze River Delta and central China, Anhui is striving to establish itself as a pivotal logistics and economic hub.

In recent years, Anhui has introduced policies such as the "Action Plan for Reducing Costs and Improving Efficiency in Transportation and Logistics" and the "Implementation Plan for Building a Modern Logistics System to Reduce Overall Logistics Costs." These outline a clear strategy to become a "logistics powerhouse" by 2027, targeting a logistics-related industry value-added of 1 trillion yuan and reducing the ratio of total social logistics costs to GDP to 12%.

From October 28 to 29, the "2025 (Wuhu) Hub Economy Construction Promotion Conference and Logistics Industry Supply-Demand Matchmaking Event" was held in Wuhu. The event, themed "Linking the World, Connecting Jianghuai—Embracing a New Era of Hub Economy," gathered over 400 participants, including government officials, industry experts, and corporate representatives. The conference saw the establishment of the Anhui Logistics Hub Alliance, with 27 entities signing 13 projects worth 5.9 billion yuan.

Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery, emphasized that Anhui, already a manufacturing and automotive powerhouse, must also become a leader in logistics. The province is leveraging its geographical advantages to transform into a hub economy center, integrating logistics with industrial development.

Anhui’s highway network often faces heavy traffic during holidays, reflecting its role as a critical junction linking multiple provinces and the Yangtze River Delta with central China. According to the "Anhui Logistics Hub Development Report (2025 Edition)," the province has made significant progress in national logistics hub construction, forming a modern logistics network that spans the province, radiates nationwide, and connects globally.

By June this year, Anhui had seven cities designated as national logistics hub carriers, hosting eight national logistics hubs—ranking among the top in China. The hubs are strategically distributed along the Yangtze River and inland areas. For example, Wuhu, Anqing, and Ma'anshan form a waterborne logistics corridor, while Hefei’s three hubs (land port, trade service, and production service types) serve as the core of a land-based logistics network covering northern and central Anhui.

Zhong Lan, Deputy Director of Anhui’s Development and Reform Commission, highlighted that logistics is a crucial component of the real economy and modern industrial systems. The province is accelerating the development of logistics hubs that connect the Yangtze River Delta with central and western China, aiming to turn geographical advantages into industrial and economic strengths.

Wuhu, a key logistics hub, is rapidly advancing its hub economy. Mayor Xu Zhi stated that the city will deepen integration between logistics and advanced manufacturing, modern services, and digital transformation, focusing on supply chain management, cold-chain logistics, and cross-border e-commerce to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

Despite progress, challenges remain. Industry leaders pointed out that Anhui’s logistics sector is "large but not strong," with efficiency and innovation lagging behind more developed regions. Yin Tongyue called for strategic planning to address weaknesses, while Bai Guangli, Vice President of COFCO’s Business Management Center, urged Anhui to develop its own logistics model rather than following Shanghai or Jiangsu’s lead.

He suggested that Anhui collaborate with major logistics firms like JD.com to establish cross-border logistics channels and cultivate homegrown industry leaders. Bai also emphasized the need for unified branding and standardized operations across Anhui’s logistics hubs to achieve high-quality development.

At the conference, He Dengcai, Director of the Expert Committee of the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing, discussed the critical role of logistics in China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), stressing the need for structural reforms and cost optimization.

Lu Chengyun, Director of the Logistics and Supply Chain Research Office at the National Development and Reform Commission’s Institute of Comprehensive Transportation, explained that developing a hub economy optimizes supply chains, reduces costs, and enhances productivity distribution.

As Anhui works to transition from a "transit corridor" to a "value hub," Zhong Lan reiterated plans to deepen logistics-industry integration, particularly in automotive and equipment manufacturing, to strengthen global supply chain capabilities and support China’s dual-circulation development strategy.

The province’s vision for a nationally influential hub economy zone is taking shape, backed by policy support and cross-sector collaboration.