Read our Railfreight Insights to find out about the latest developments on the New Iron Silk Road between China and Europe. Get an update on trade and rate developments as well as flexible solutions offered by cargo-partner.

After the Golden Week, the rail freight market experiences a surge in volume. It is also associated with the current delays in sea freight at the ports of Ningbo and Shanghai. Transit times from the main rail terminals in China to Małaszewicze in Poland remain highly competitive, averaging around 18 days. After some operational issues in Russia, the situation is stabilizing.

Geopolitical issues continue to increase awareness for rail transport, as air and sea cargo face longer transit times and higher rates.

The Russian sanctions policy is still in place, requiring strict HS code verification for all transitioning cargo. Additionally, Russian customs authorities have introduced targeted checks on all fiber-optic commodities. (Click for more)

Market Overview:

• Some operators started to increase their rates in the second half of October, mainly for the terminals around Shanghai and Ningbo. Space is still available on the main China-Europe routes.

• Container leasing costs are increasing, with around 100 US dollars more than in September. Due to current fuel market developments, trucking costs may go up even more.

• In Russia key rail infrastructure required immediate repair and maintenance works. These engineering operations are currently being conducted on several critical sections of the Russian Railways (RZD) network. Nevertheless, there is a steady improvement of the situation.

• The new “Eurasian Rail Transit Navigation Seal” seems to have been fully implemented in September. We get regular notifications that more and more containers are affected.

• There’s new regulation from Russia Customs, that 40OT containers (with 45U6 marking) will most likely get additional checks at Kartaly (mainly because the roof can be opened)

Current market assessment from October 21, 2026:

Key Takeaways

Our Recommendations for Customers

• Book your shipments on “full-schedule express block trains”, which enjoy priority handling across Asian and European networks. These services guarantee the best transit times, especially for time-sensitive goods.

• Adjust your route into Europe by choosing different entry points to suit your requirements and find the best solution for you.

• Overall, operations are stabilizing, and demand remains at a stable level compared to the previous year.

• Both terminal-to-terminal buying rates and trucking rates are expected to increase slightly.

• Compared to sea and air freight, which are affected by volatile market factors, rail freight remains highly competitive and is therefore a strong option in terms of both costs and transit time.