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.

As we progress through Q3, customer interest in rail freight via the standard corridor has stabilized at a relatively high level. In July, transit times from the main rail terminals in China to Małaszewicze in Poland remained highly competitive, averaging around 15-17 days. Currently, the route is free of operational bottlenecks, and all services are running smoothly.

Ongoing 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:

• Rail freight rates have stabilized in August, with some rail operators maintaining or slightly increasing their rate levels.

• On the main China-Europe routes, space remains available, although it is getting tighter. Trains from Chengdu and Chongqing are almost full until the end of August.

• In contrast, demand on the Central Asian trade lane has seen an ongoing surge lately.

• Due to this surge, congestion is reported at the Altynkol transshipment hub. However, transloading at Dostyk is almost back to normal.

• While main-haul space is available, European regional distribution faces bottlenecks. German rail maintenance has restricted major corridors, causing reduced capacity, delayed wagon turnarounds, and container backlogs at the Małaszewicze border crossing. This has impacted distribution times from various hubs, including Prague, Belgrade, Krems, Bratislava, Dunajská Streda, Česká Třebová, and Lyon.

• Russian customs authorities have recently started to inspect all cargo related to fiber-optic commodities. A few containers have already been sent back to China.

• Overall, inspection risks are currently high.

Current market assessment from August 13, 2026:

Key Takeaways

Our Recommendations for Customers

• Overall, operations are running smoothly, and demand remains at a high level.

• We suggest sharing your regular demand forecasts with us in advance, so that we can proactively secure additional capacity for you.

• Both terminal-to-terminal buying rates and trucking rates are expected to remain stable.

• Compared to sea freight and air freight, which are affected by volatile market factors, rail freight remains highly competitive and is now an even more interesting option in terms of both costs and transit time.