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Eurasian Freight Capacity Expands Across Air and Land Corridors

  • 2 days ago
  • 2 min read

🚨 Market Signal

China–Europe and Central Asian logistics are entering a new phase of capacity expansion across both air and overland networks. DHL has added daily freighter capacity between Shanghai and Brussels, while Kazakhstan is strengthening its position along the Middle Corridor through a new multimodal hub near Almaty and a wider terminal network extending from China toward the Black Sea. At the same time, Uzbekistan’s trade data highlights the growing role of alternative southbound routes through Iran for both imports and exports. 


In this edition, we explore how new freighter capacity, expanding logistics hubs and alternative transit corridors are strengthening China–Europe and Central Asian freight connectivity.



DHL Added Daily Freighter Capacity Between China and Europe

DHL Express launched a new dedicated Boeing 767 freighter rotation connecting Shanghai with Brussels through Bangkok and Bahrain, adding new daily air cargo capacity between China and Europe.


  • The new Shanghai–Bangkok–Bahrain–Brussels–Shanghai rotation operates daily.

  • The service uses a Boeing 767 freighter with a maximum payload of approximately 50 tonnes.

  • Brussels serves as DHL’s European gateway on the rotation, while Bahrain connects shipments moving between Asian, Middle Eastern and European markets.

  • DHL has also expanded its Shenzhen gateway to approximately 900 tonnes of daily handling capacity, roughly three times its previous throughput.



Almaty Region Opened a 100,000-Container Logistics Hub

A new multimodal transport and logistics center has started operations in Kazakhstan’s Almaty Region, adding rail, road, warehousing and container-handling capacity near one of the country’s main freight nodes.


  • The facility covers more than 26.5 hectares and can handle up to 100,000 containers annually.

  • Total investment reached KZT 28.1 billion, approximately US$60 million.

  • Monthly cargo-handling capacity exceeds 111,000 tonnes.

  • A 45-tonne crane installed at the terminal can process up to 25 containers per hour, and the first container train departed during the opening.


Kazakhstan Extends Its Logistics Network from China to the Black Sea

Kazakhstan is expanding its international terminal network beyond its own borders, linking logistics assets in China with Caspian and Black Sea gateways serving the Middle Corridor.


  • The China–Kazakhstan logistics terminal at Lianyungang handled 271,700 TEUs in 2025 and another 140,100 TEUs in H1 2026.

  • Kazakhstan’s logistics network also includes Xi’an and Khorgos Gateway, with a new dry port in Chengdu planned for 2027.

  • The multimodal terminal at Poti, Georgia, provides annual capacity of up to 100,000 TEUs.

  • Kazakhstan is also pursuing terminal projects at Alat in Azerbaijan, as well as Budapest and Constanța, extending its presence further along the China–Europe corridor.



Iran Handles Significant Share of Uzbekistan’s Transit Trade

New Uzbek government data highlights the importance of Iranian transport corridors and ports for Uzbekistan’s international cargo flows, particularly for imports and westbound exports.


  • Uzbekistan imported US$3.9 billion worth of goods via transit through Iran in 2025, equivalent to around 9% of total imports.

  • Approximately US$1 billion of this traffic consisted of technological equipment.

  • Uzbek exports moving through Iran reached US$1.4 billion, representing around 10% of exports excluding gold.

  • The figures underline the role of Iranian ports as an alternative logistics gateway for landlocked Uzbekistan.


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