China Gets In on Effort to Transport More Freight to Europe While Bypassing Russia
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A China-Europe freight train departs from the Xi'an International Port station. Photo: VCG
China’s state railway operator has joined an international joint venture (JV) managing a key cargo transport artery to Europe that bypasses Russia, taking a significant step to bolster an alternative to the traditional northern route of the China-Europe Railway Express.
China State Railway Group Co. Ltd. said Tuesday that its container transport subsidiary has signed a deal to acquire a stake in Middle Corridor Multimodal Transport Co. Ltd., the JV created by the state-owned railway companies of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
While China State Railway Group did not disclose how many shares it acquired, it said that the four parties will work together to develop and operate the middle corridor of the China-Europe Railway Express.
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- China State Railway joined a joint venture with Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to manage the Middle Corridor, bypassing Russia for China-Europe cargo.
- The Middle Corridor’s traffic grew 20.6% to 3.3 million tons in 2024, but its Europe-bound market share dropped from 45% pre-Ukraine war to around 15%.
- Operational challenges and unstable costs/times limit its use, with some logistics firms suspending service despite rising demand.
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Who’s Who
- China State Railway Group Co. Ltd.
- China State Railway Group Co. Ltd., China's state railway operator, has acquired a stake in Middle Corridor Multimodal Transport Co. Ltd., a joint venture set up by railway companies from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. This move aims to bolster an alternative cargo transport route to Europe that bypasses Russia, diversifying China's overland trade routes. While the exact share acquired wasn't disclosed, the company's container transport subsidiary signed the deal to develop and operate the middle corridor of the China-Europe Railway Express.
- Middle Corridor Multimodal Transport Co. Ltd.
- Middle Corridor Multimodal Transport Co. Ltd. (中亚多式联运有限公司) is a joint venture established by the state-owned railway companies of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Registered in Astana in November 2023, its purpose is to coordinate transport resources, provide freight forwarding services along the middle corridor with unified prices, and improve transport efficiency. China State Railway Group Co. Ltd. has acquired a stake in this JV to further develop and operate the middle corridor of the China-Europe Railway Express.
- Azerbaijan Railways
- Azerbaijan Railways (阿塞拜疆铁路) is a state-owned railway company and a shareholder in the Middle Corridor Multimodal Transport Co. Ltd. They announced that China's participation in this joint venture will create new opportunities for China-Europe container freight. The middle corridor, passing through Azerbaijan, serves as an alternative trade route to Europe, bypassing Russia.
- DHL Global Forwarding
- DHL Global Forwarding initially experienced strong demand for its services on the middle corridor but later suspended operations due to "uncertainties." The CEO for Greater China, Aditi Rasquinha, stated that the company continues to monitor the regional security situation, acknowledging that some customers prioritizing transportation times might still opt for the middle corridor.
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What Happened When
- Early 2022：
- Russian-Ukraine war broke out, prompting Western boycotts and disruptions on the traditional northern corridor of the China-Europe Railway Express.
- August 2023：
- Azerbaijan Railways announced that China’s participation in the Middle Corridor Multimodal Transport JV would create new opportunities for China-Europe container freight.
- November 2023：
- Middle Corridor Multimodal Transport Co. Ltd. was registered in Astana by the state-owned railway companies of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
- 2024：
- Cargo volume on the TITR grew 20.6% year-on-year to 3.3 million tons, with container traffic more than doubling to 565,000 TEUs, according to the Association of Trans-Caspian International Transport.
- September 2025：
- DHL Global Forwarding suspended its service on the middle corridor due to operational uncertainties.
- November 19, 2025：
- China State Railway Group Co. Ltd. announced its container transport subsidiary signed a deal to acquire a stake in Middle Corridor Multimodal Transport Co. Ltd.
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