Rail operator Pasifik Eurasia has sent a block train from Izmir on its way to China. It marks the first instance of a rail link between the Aegean region to China, according to the Turkish company.
The train, which carries 50 containers, has Shanghai as its final destination. “This route is more than just a shipment; it represents the foundation of a sustainable logistics corridor that will carry Türkiye’s manufacturing strength to the heart of global trade”, writes Pasifik Eurasia on LinkedIn.
“Our strong export capacity — especially in the home appliances sector — can now reach China faster, more securely, and with greater efficiency.”
Not the usual east-west direction
The train will make its way to the Far East via the Middle Corridor, which traverses the Caspian Sea and Central Asia before reaching the Chinese border. The vast majority of goods transported on this corridor originate from China. The goods are usually destined for Central Asian or European countries.
Around 90% of freight on China-Europe rail corridors (not just on the Middle Corridor) is westbound. Only 10% is exported to China. In this particular instance, it is a case of the latter: Turkish products are exported to China. “A new chapter in Türkiye–China trade relations”, Pasifik Eurasia calls it.