{"id":178113,"date":"2025-02-20T20:44:29","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T10:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=60020"},"modified":"2025-02-20T20:44:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T10:44:29","slug":"problems-with-container-transit-through-russia-random-blockades-or-issue-resolved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=178113","title":{"rendered":"Problems with container transit through Russia: random blockades or issue resolved?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In October 2024, Russia introduced a directive prohibiting the transit of dual-use goods through its territory. European and Chinese companies have since been saying that containers are being blocked and sent back – sometimes without good reason. Now that some time has passed, the issues seem to have been resolved for some, whereas they are still ongoing for others.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The directive gives Russian customs the right to detain goods they suspect might have military or dual-use applications. They can inspect containers at any station. In practice, that means that goods that clear the border may still incur delays or face detention, even when they are already well into Russian territory.<\/p>\n

Some checks and blockades used to happen occasionally, even before the October 2024 directive. However, a representative of China-based company Bangdatong Logistics told Chinese media that the current blockades were \u201cunprecedented\u201d. Containers with machinery and electronic components are reportedly stopped most frequently, but other containers are also stopped and sent back into China.<\/p>\n

Over a thousand containers<\/h2>\n

RailFreight.com knows of at least three Romanian companies, one Italian and a Dutch company that have had containers blocked by Russia. However, there are likely quite a bit more. Over a thousand containers have been blocked since October, according to Chinese media.<\/p>\n

For example, a RailFreight.com source explained that they had exactly that scenario play out. Russia blocked a number of containers at the border and sent them back. The company’s Chinese agent reassured them that there were no sanctioned goods present in the container – but they were rejected by Russia nonetheless.<\/p>\n

Resolved or ongoing?<\/h2>\n

It remains unclear if the issues with the container blockades are still ongoing. One source told RailFreight.com that the problems had been resolved after complying with Russia\u2019s restrictions on dual-use goods. On the contrary, others have recently reported issues, which indicate that logistics companies are still experiencing obstacles with containers transit through Russia.<\/p>\n

Media in China report that Chinese businesses fear a drop in container shipments along the route. The unpredictability of the route, as well as the risk of incurring increased costs due to delay, could push European companies to find other routes to import goods.<\/p>\n