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Operational Gains Accelerate China–Europe Transit via Central Asia

  • Feb 5
  • 3 min read

🚨 Market Signal

Uzbekistan is emerging as a cornerstone of Eurasian logistics.


China-Europe freight flows are faster and more reliable. Increasingly routed through the Middle Corridor, while C5+1 projects and regional partnerships are strengthening connectivity across Central Asia.


The signal is clear: the Middle Corridor and integrated multimodal networks are no longer experimental-they are shaping the permanent future of Eurasian trade.



China-Europe Freight Trains Cement Role as a Key Eurasian Trade Artery

China–Europe freight trains continue to reshape Eurasian logistics, surpassing 120,000 trips by late 2025 and moving goods worth over $490 billion. With faster services, expanding corridors, and rising cargo value, the rail network is becoming a strategic alternative to traditional sea and air routes. Beyond China’s borders, three international corridors extend connectivity through multiple countries, weaving together broad-gauge railways, ferry routes and even sea-rail logistics that stretch all the way into Europe


  • Speed: Full timetable services, operating on fixed routes and schedules - cut transit times by over 30%, enabling faster and more dependable China-Europe deliveries.

  • Reliability: Metro-style operations, standardized pricing and predictable departures improve planning certainty, attracting higher-value cargo and strengthening shipper confidence.

  • Connectivity: A growing web of domestic and international corridors links hundreds of cities across Asia and Europe, integrating rail, sea and road transport for flexible routing options.

  • Trade Value: Since 2013, the value of goods carried has increased more than 30-fold, with rail now accounting for roughly 8.5% of China-Europe trade, driven by efficiency and cost savings.


First International Freight Train of 2026 Departs from China to Uzbekistan, Strengthening Eurasian Trade Links

An international freight train carrying 1,300 tonnes of high-quality coal coke has left Wuwei, Gansu Province, bound for Ablik railway station in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent region. Valued at 4.06 million yuan (around $580,000), this marks the first international freight departure from Gansu this year, reinforcing rail’s role in China–Central Asia trade. The journey is expected to take approximately nine days.


  • Capacity: Moves 1,300 tonnes of coal coke in a single shipment, demonstrating efficient bulk cargo transport.

  • Speed: Estimated nine-day transit provides a faster and more reliable alternative to traditional routes.

  • Connectivity: Operates via Wuwei’s expanding bonded logistics hub, linking Gansu to Central Asia and broader Eurasian corridors.

  • Trade Impact: Opens a stable channel for distributing “Made in Gansu” products and other Chinese goods across Central Asia, supporting regional trade growth.


Kazakhstan to Launch Multimodal International Airport in Zhetysu, Boosting China–Central Asia–Europe Trade

Kazakhstan is set to build a new international cargo and passenger airport in the Zhetysu region near the Chinese border, within the Khorgos–Eastern Gate SEZ. Developed by Kazakh-German joint venture Skyhansa LLP, the facility will integrate air, rail and road transport, creating a major multimodal hub along key Eurasian trade routes.


  • Connectivity: Seamless Air-Rail-Auto-Air links will enable faster, more efficient movement of high-value and time-sensitive cargo while enhancing regional passenger transport.

  • Construction: Three phases (2027–full completion) include core airfield and cargo terminals, expanded logistics and passenger infrastructure, and a full-service international aviation hub with MRO operations.

  • Trade Impact: Supports Kazakhstan’s role as a central Eurasian logistics player, facilitating e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and other high-value shipments.


Oksana Medeni, Marketing and Managing Director, CargoPoint


What we’re seeing here is not a tactical rerouting of freight, but a structural shift in Eurasian trade architecture. Uzbekistan is moving from being a transit option to a system anchor - where reliability, political alignment, and multimodal integration converge. The rise of the Middle Corridor signals that shippers are prioritizing resilience and optionality over legacy paths.


For leaders, the implication is clear: this is the moment to invest in end-to-end coordination, not just infrastructure. Frameworks like C5+1 deliver value especially when translated into operational standards, data transparency, and cross-border execution discipline. Those who align strategy now - across rail, road, sea, and policy - won’t just move cargo faster; they’ll help define the permanent operating system of China - Europe trade via Central Asia





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