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.

Customer interest in rail freight via the standard corridor further increased in Q2, mostly due to the current geopolitical challenges. In June, transit times from the main rail terminals in China to Małaszewicze in Poland improved significantly to around 14-17 days. Currently, we are not facing any challenges along the route, and operations are running smoothly.

The aforementioned geopolitical issues are increasing awareness for rail transport as a viable option, while air and sea cargo face longer transit times and/or increased rates.

It is also important to note that the Russian sanctions policy is still in place, requiring a detailed inspection of the HS codes for all goods being transported. (Click for more)

Market Overview:

• Rail freight rates have stabilized in July, with some rail operators even deciding to lower their rates slightly.

• On the main China-Europe routes, space remains readily available as overall demand has decreased compared to the previous three months.

• In contrast, demand on the Central Asian trade lane has surged recently, driven by a sharp rise in inquiries to Iran via rail, with options through Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan.

• The spike in rail shipments to Iran has reduced container availability between China and Central Asia. In response, container leasing companies have ordered or produced numerous new containers in China. If clients are unable to accept a brand-new container (e.g. for food commodities), they will most likely have to pay an additional 200-300 USD to obtain one with all necessary certificates.

• While main-haul space is available, European regional distribution is facing bottlenecks. Due to infrastructure and maintenance work on the German rail network, multiple major freight corridors are subject to restrictions. This has led to a decline in overall rail capacity, delays in wagon turnaround times, and container backlogs at the Małaszewicze border crossing. Consequently, distribution times from various hub terminals, including Prague, Belgrade, Krems, Bratislava, Dunajská Streda, Česká Třebová and Lyon, are impacted.

Current market assessment from July 1, 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 at the same level.

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