130 Chinese freight trains stuck at the Belarus–Poland border

After Poland closed its border with Belarus on September 12, more than 130 trains from China were left stranded on the Belarusian side. The cargo is worth billions of euros, as about 3.7% of Chinese exports to the EU normally pass along this route.

Companies are already seeking alternatives — through St. Petersburg with onward sea transport, or via a southern corridor through Kazakhstan, the Caucasus, and Turkey. Chinese carriers hope the blockade won’t last long, but so far there’s no word on when the border will reopen.

Lukashenko, meeting with Chinese Politburo member Li Xi, tried to shift blame, claiming Belarus wasn’t at fault and that Poland was merely “playing the pawn for other states.”

The closure has hit not only China and Europe but also ricocheted onto Russia. Dozens of transit trains are now stuck in Kazakhstan, including those carrying Russian goods. From September 21 to 30, the acceptance of foreign cargo has been almost entirely halted, leaving 90 trains immobile.

Attempts to switch to trucking have only worsened the crisis. On the Russia–Kazakhstan border, trucks face multi-day queues, and perishable goods are being sent to temporary storage facilities.

Logistics experts estimate that up to 90% of China–EU rail shipments via Belarus and Poland are currently suspended. Some cargo is being rerouted through Lithuania or Zabaikalsk, but those are only temporary fixes.

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