China-Europe Rail Freight via Russia Surges Amid Deep-Sea Disruption

Rail freight traffic between China and Europe via Russia has increased by almost 50% this year as security concerns in the Red Sea and persistent disruption to the Suez Canal have prompted shippers to divert freight to the Kazakhstan - Russia - Belarus corridor, according to Russia’s Ministry of Transport.

While sanctions prohibit the shipment of dual-use goods through Russia to Europe, they do not amount to a blanket ban on all logistics flows via Russia, Andrey Nikitin, Russia’s transport minister said in an interview with the Russian state business publication Izvestia.

China - Europe freight moves along the Trans-Eurasian rail route via Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus in an average of 12-15 days, compared with 40-45 days by sea via the Suez Canal route amid the current disruptions. In March, container traffic between China and Europe through these countries increased by 45%, from 21,000 TEU to 31,000 TEU, compared with March 2025.

When the rail corridor was first developed, it was primarily used for high-value, time-sensitive goods such as smartphones, computer processors and laptops, where reducing transit times and reaching retail markets quickly were critical factors.

EU sanctions against Russia have significantly changed the composition of freight moving along the route, shifting towards consumer goods, particularly fast-growing e-commerce shipments. Millions of parcels from platforms such as Shein and AliExpress now rely on the route, where speed of delivery remains a key advantage over maritime transport. However, it remains to be seen whether the growth in rail traffic on the route can be sustained in the second half of the year.

“If the flow consolidates, it could really spur investment in terminals, border crossings, rolling stock, and digital services,” says Artem Valeev, CEO of FTS-Service Group, a Russian transport company.

International Railway Journal