News / European companies using Chinese rail agents to evade Russia sanctions

Demand for China-Europe rail freight has plummeted since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but some European customers are “bypassing sanctions” by using Chinese agents.

According to Chinese state media, Silk Road rail volumes increased in the first quarter to 350,000 teu on 3,630 train trips, up 9% and 7% respectively, year on year.

However, forwarders have experienced a very different reality on the ground; one contact told The Loadstar he estimated rail volumes were down by 80% on pre-war figures.

Jacky Yan, founder and ...