Belt & Road alternative — the Middle Corridor. Multimodal freight from China to Europe routed through our Türkiye (Turkey) hub. Rail, sea and air options. 1-hour quotes.
Trans-Caspian rail (Middle Corridor) from Xi'an, Chengdu or Chongqing through Kazakhstan and across the Caspian to Türkiye, then onward to European hubs. A faster alternative to sea, more cost-effective than air.
Ocean freight from Chinese ports (Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen) to Turkish gateways (Mersin, Istanbul, Izmir) with onward European leg via Mediterranean shipping lines or road from Türkiye.
Express air cargo via Istanbul Airport (IST) — one of the world's largest cargo hubs. Connecting flights to Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid and 50+ European destinations. Ideal for time-critical shipments.
Customs clearance at one end of the route, export clearance at origin or import clearance at destination, can be added to your quote depending on the route. Clearance at the other end, duties and taxes are arranged by the buyer or seller with their customs broker. We coordinate with the broker and send the documents they need on time.
The Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian route) through Türkiye is faster than sea freight (saves 10–15 days) and significantly cheaper than air. With Russia-Ukraine route disruptions, Türkiye has emerged as Asia's main gateway to Europe — politically stable, geographically central and customs-efficient.
Trans-Caspian rail typically takes 18–25 days from Chinese inland hubs (Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing) to European destinations via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Türkiye. Transit times depend on the specific route, customs at border crossings, and seasonal Caspian conditions.
Goods routed through Türkiye under transit (T1/TIR) are not subject to Turkish import duties. We coordinate transit requirements and documents with the relevant customs brokers. The agreed transit arrangements are confirmed in your quote. Customs clearance at origin or destination can be added to your quote, depending on the route. Clearance at the other end, duties and taxes are arranged by the buyer or seller with their customs broker. For shipments cleared in Türkiye before final EU delivery, EU preferential origin rules under the Customs Union may apply.
Rail via Türkiye is typically more expensive per CBM than ocean freight, but 30–50% cheaper than air. The trade-off is speed: rail saves 10–15 days vs. sea. For time-sensitive cargo that doesn't justify air freight cost, rail through Türkiye is the optimal balance.
Yes. A common cost-saving combination: sea freight from China to Mersin or Istanbul (28–32 days), then road FTL/LTL to anywhere in Europe (4–7 days). This avoids Suez Canal congestion and Mediterranean port bottlenecks while still delivering door-to-door.
Through our Türkiye hub we deliver to Germany, Netherlands, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, UK, Belgium and beyond. Major hubs include Frankfurt, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Warsaw and London. For destinations not listed, contact us for a custom corridor quote.
Tell us about your shipment — origin in China, final destination in Europe, cargo type and timeline. We'll respond within 1 hour with multimodal corridor options.