Rail container shipments from China to Europe surged in March as shippers sought alternatives to disrupted sea routes in the Middle East, reports Warsaw's Reform.news.

Russian Transport and Communications Minister Andrei Nikitin told Izvestia that the joint rail project of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus has become more attractive amid instability in the Red Sea and Suez Canal. He stated that volumes rose by 45 percent in March 2026, climbing from 21,000 TEU to 31,000 TEU.

Nikitin noted that rail delivery from western China to Europe takes 12 to 15 days, compared with 40 to 45 days by sea. He emphasized that the faster transit time is drawing more interest from shippers facing delays in maritime routes.

The route was once dominated by electronics shipments, but European Union sanctions have reduced volumes. It is now mainly used for parcels from Chinese online marketplaces, according to Nikitin.