The problems of Russian Railways are forcing importers to resort more and more often to delivering goods from the Far East by road instead of rail, and Chinese carriers are taking over the market there.

Logistics companies and drivers from China began to explore this destination in earnest in the second half of 2024, when road freight demand and prices began to rise rapidly due to capacity shortages on rail routes.

Until this year, competition from Chinese transport companies was felt mainly in the Far East and Siberia, while Chinese lorries rarely reached central Russia, because the route to Moscow or St. Petersburg, where a significant portion of imported cargo is sent and then back, exceeds 15,000 kilometres, there are few high-speed roads, especially to the Urals, and the climate and infrastructure are not the most pleasant, says the manager of a federal logistics company. In addition, Chinese carriers are prohibited from cabotage - that is, transporting domestic cargo within Russia, he adds. Traditionally, Chinese applicants have received almost half as many permits to cross the Russian border as Russian drivers have received to cross the Chinese border.