Belt & Road alternative — the Middle Corridor. Multimodal freight from China to Europe routed through our 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 Turkey, 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 Turkey.
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.
The Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian route) through Turkey is faster than sea freight (saves 10–15 days) and significantly cheaper than air. With Russia-Ukraine route disruptions, Turkey 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 Turkey. Transit times depend on the specific route, customs at border crossings, and seasonal Caspian conditions.
Goods routed through Turkey under transit (T1/TIR) are not subject to Turkish import duties. Our team handles transit documentation, customs bonds and onward EU entry. For shipments cleared in Turkey before final EU delivery, EU preferential origin rules under the Customs Union may apply.
Rail via Turkey 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 Turkey 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 Turkey 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.