In late October 2024, Russia has been rigorously inspecting the China-Europe freight trains, leading to the detention of thousands of Chinese containers. This has resulted in a significant backlog of containers for the China-Europe freight trains, with some goods being stuck for over three months.
According to a report by Caixin on January 27, in recent months, containers bound for Europe from the China-Europe freight trains have been continuously detained by Russia. Several logistics professionals have stated recently that some of their goods bound for Europe are still held up in Russia.
“For example, Christmas cotton clothing made for customers, Christmas has long been over, but the goods are still being held there,” said Liu Zan, General Manager of Bondatong Logistics (Hunan) Co., Ltd. Since late October 2024, Liu’s company has had containers passing through Russia detained one after another. Liu’s company mainly engages in full-container-load and less-than-container-load business for the China-Europe freight trains, with a total of 70 containers affected so far.
Industry insiders have pointed out that at least over a thousand containers have been affected by this seizure, causing some cargo owners to be reluctant to use the China-Europe freight trains. Coupled with the off-season before the Chinese New Year, the China-Europe freight trains have experienced negative growth, with ports like Alashankou being left empty.
The report states that this seizure stems from Decree No. 1374 passed by the Russian government on October 15, 2024.
Decree No. 1374 expanded upon Decree No. 313 issued on March 9, 2022, which prohibited the transit of goods through Russia, by adding categories such as machinery, electronics, camouflage clothing, mainly targeting dual-use military and civilian goods.
On January 23 this year, the shipping self-media “Trade Night Navigation” also reported that Russia suddenly launched a comprehensive inspection of the China-Europe freight trains to ensure that the goods inside the containers are not on the prohibited list.
“Trade Night Navigation” stated that in October last year, Russia passed a resolution. This resolution established a list of prohibited items for goods transiting through Russian territory, mainly involving dual-use goods. Since then, all China-Europe freight trains passing through Russian territories are subject to inspections at various stations.
The inspection has led to a significant backlog of containers. If prohibited goods are found, the containers will be suspended for transportation, subject to inspection and seizure of goods at the expenses of the shipper. Some foreign traders have reflected that even men’s jackets and other retail items are within the scope of inspection. On January 9, after a meeting between the Chinese and Russian foreign ministries, some containers were released, but a large number of containers still remain piled up in Smolensk.
A foreign trader disclosed that a batch of goods set off from China on October 22, 2024, and has been stranded in Russia since November 4. No one initially anticipated that Russia would halt all trains to inspect goods.
There are currently four main railway routes connecting China and Europe, three of which pass through Russia.
This incident has sparked attention on Chinese social media.
“Russia issued an order, followed the order and virtually rendered the China-Europe freight trains useless. They are imposing sanctions left and right, even clothes bound for Europe are being sanctioned. Whether it has an impact on Europe, I do not know, but it certainly has the biggest impact on us.”
“Is this part of the ‘no limits’?””This one has no limits, the other has no lower limit, it’s quite something.””This is the legendary two-way rush, one willing to fight, the other willing to suffer.””Caught in the middle, reaping what one has sown, without limits.””If it was detained since October last year, why is it only coming out now?” “Why not interview the Ministry of Commerce to get a clearer picture?”