New Silk Road - VibeWire Magazine

China-Europe: Silk Road rail has entered a new and very promising phase

Nikos Papatolios
December 2, 2025
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China-Europe rail freight has been plagued by uncertainty and abrupt shifts in the past five years. Pessimists underscored the gradual decline in market share and…

Data of the week: Overland rates rise as maritime markets weaken

Nikos Papatolios
November 26, 2025
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In October 2025, the Maxmodal Silk Road Index (MSRI) continued its steady upward trend, increasing by 1.23% for 20-foot containers and 0.91% for 40-foot containers.…

Tracks and trade bind east to west

Simon Walton
July 30, 2025
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China has become the workshop of the world and remains eager to share the fruits of those labours. Rail plays a small but increasingly important role in getting some of those goods to market.

New Kazakhstan-China rail line and border point to be accompanied by sizeable dry port

Nikos Papatolios
May 19, 2025
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The Eurasian rail network anticipates valuable additions on the frequently and heavily congested China-Kazakhstan axis: The Ayagoz-Bakhty railway line and the Bakhty border crossing to…

New Silk Road train connects Xi’an and Duisburg

Simon Walton
April 17, 2025
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Belgian-headquartered Ziegler announced a new rail connection between the German river port of Duisburg and the Chinese northwestern hub of Xi’an.

New Silk Road: World factors drive rail freight growth

Simon Walton
August 13, 2024
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The Chinese government has posted figures that show significant growth in international rail freight traffic. The state-owned railway network has expressed encouragement that trade with Europe, along what’s become known as the New Silk Road, is healthier than ever.

‘Poland threatened China with Malaszewicze rail border closure’ to stop migrant flows

Guest authors
July 24, 2024
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Polish president Andrzej Duda has reportedly threatened to effectively close the Malaszewicze rail border crossing with Belarus. The crossing is key to China’s overland exports…

‘CKU line cannot compete with Kazakh infrastructure for China – Europe freight’

Guest authors
July 16, 2024
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After a long time of political tug-of-war, China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan seem to have agreed on an outline for the China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan…

China, Belarus and Kazakhstan to build terminal on Belarusian-Polish border

Guest authors
June 27, 2024
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China, Belarus and Kazakhstan intend to build a logistics terminal on the Belarusian-Polish border. The three countries signed a memorandum of intent consolidating their plans…

Nurminen Logistics and Kazakhstan eye joint Middle Corridor investments

Nikos Papatolios
June 19, 2024
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What started as a regular service cooperation in late 2022 is now ready to upgrade into a full partnership aimed at rail investments. Nurminen Logistics and the Government of Kazakhstan, represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Murat Nurtleu, are discussing the possibilities of improving the Middle Corridor. Their negotiations entail the possibility of launching joint investment…