The volume of freight traffic between China and Europe via Russian territory has grown by nearly 50%. Due to threats in the Red Sea and the unstable operation of the Suez Canal, shippers have begun to use the Kazakhstan-Russia-Belarus route more frequently.
The war in the Middle East has effectively halted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and impacted shipping through the Suez Canal. Insurance costs and freight rates for transit through this artery have risen sharply, prompting many companies to use the longer route around Africa or seek stable overland alternatives. One of the most convenient options is the transcontinental China-Europe rail route via Kazakhstan and Russia.
