Polish border closure disrupts rail freight transport between China and Europe

The recent closure of the border between Poland and Belarus has abruptly brought rail freight transport from Asia to Europe to a standstill. This measure, taken by Poland following military exercises by Russia and Belarus and previous drone incidents, affects a crucial logistical link: approximately 90 percent of rail transport between China and Europe passes through this border.

The blockade has immediate consequences for the Malaszewicze terminal, a strategic transshipment point on the China-Europe Railway Express. This terminal serves as a gateway for Asian cargo heading to the European Union. Due to the sudden closure, carriers are facing significant delays and rising costs. In 2024, the trade flow via this route still represented a value of 25 billion euros.

According to the European Commission, the border closure is a security measure prompted by concerns about destabilization at the EU’s external border. Nevertheless, this development highlights the vulnerability of international supply chains to geopolitical tensions. As a result, logistics parties are being forced to consider alternative routes, which may lead to longer transit times and higher costs for freight transport between China and Europe.