According to the Polish Institute of Transport, at Malaszewicze, the main European border crossing point for Silk Road trains, westbound transport volumes fell by 24.3%, reaching 57,180 TEUs for the first half of 2023, as reported by the railway portal Railway Supply.

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The volumes to the east decreased even more significantly during the same period, dropping by 91% compared to the previous year.

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The 91% decrease in train volumes on the Eastern Silk Road through Malaszewicze resulted in the transportation of 824 TEUs to China in the first half of the year.

While the drop in the eastward direction was as sharp as it could be, it may not necessarily have had as strong an impact on overall trade volumes between China and Europe as the decline in the westward direction.

In the first half of the year, westbound transport volumes decreased by approximately 8,000 TEUs compared to the previous year.

One explanation for the decline in volumes at Malaszewicze may be a shift in strategy and focus on Silk Road trains. This year, there has been a change in the destination point for Silk Road trains departing from China, mainly due to the war in Ukraine and the related sanctions imposed on russia.

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