Major Decline in China-EU Rail Freight Volumes in First Half of 2025 and Its Implications

Rail Freight Between China and the EU Experiences Sharp Decline

Rail freight moving between China and the European Union took quite a hit in the first half of 2025, dropping by 27% despite the fact that overall trade between the East and West increased. This trend underlines how rail freight has yet to carve out a firm, long-lasting role in the transportation of goods between these two economic powerhouses. While the rail corridor has seen moments of elevated activity, such surges often came as a reaction to external disruptions rather than sustained growth drivers.

Data on Freight Volume

Notably, the rail freight volumes favor China’s exports heavily, accounting for approximately 86% of total traffic. However, the growth on the East-West route remains modest, averaging only around 2.3% annually since 2019, with a consistent decline seen on the West-East leg. These numbers highlight a persistent asymmetry in trade flows, mirroring the EU’s expanding trade deficit with China.

Why Has Rail Freight Lost Its Momentum?

The peaks in rail freight volumes in recent years often coincided with disruptions in other modes of transport. For instance, post-pandemic recovery in 2021 and the maritime blockage in the Red Sea during 2024 led many shippers to temporarily shift towards rail solutions. But as maritime routes stabilized, a marked exodus back to sea transport ensued, driven by the maritime sector’s competitive pricing and reliability.

Comparative Transport Modes and Market Behavior

• Maritime transport remains the preferred choice for many shippers due to its established networks and affordability.
• The rail alternative is often more expensive and less flexible, which limits its appeal for typical freight forwarders.
• Temporary spikes in rail freight tend to dissipate once maritime services resume normal operations.

It’s fair to say shippers are pragmatic—they want a balance of cost, speed, and reliability. When maritime transport took a hit, rail freight offered an attractive stopgap. Once things settled, the classic logistics playbook came back into effect with sea lanes regaining dominance.

Key European Entry Points and Route Dynamics

At the heart of Europe’s connection to China via rail remains Poland, which is increasingly solidifying its position as the primary entry point for freight heading into the EU. The China-Poland corridor accounted for a whopping 93.4% of eastbound traffic during the first half of 2025—up from 82.5% in 2024. Meanwhile, routes through Germany and Belgium experienced significant volume drops, with Germany’s traffic falling by a factor of three and Belgium’s by tenfold. Hungary’s rail freight with China nearly vanished altogether.

On the flip side, westbound freight from Europe to China is dominated by the Germany-China corridor, representing 71% of flows, although volumes here also dropped by 26%. Poland-China shipments declined by about 17%, heavily influenced by a slowdown in the automotive sector’s rail freight shipments.

Freight Traffic by Major European Corridors (First Half 2025)

Broader Trade Trends Behind Rail Freight Flows

The fluctuation in rail freight aligns closely with the broader economic relationship between China and the EU. While Chinese exports to the EU grew by 6.6% in early 2025, EU exports to China decreased by nearly 6%. This imbalance is mirrored in the rail freight numbers where China continues to dominate the flow of goods heading west, but imports from the EU remain sluggish.

Despite growth in China’s export economy, rail freight has struggled to capture a lasting share of this trade, particularly for EU exports moving eastwards. After the Red Sea shipping disturbance in 2024, many freight handlers shifted back to maritime routes around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, choosing the stable and cost-competitive sea freight over rail.

Implications for Global Logistics and Freight Forwarding

This data offers a peek into the ongoing tug-of-war between different transport modes in international logistics. Rail’s promise lies in its speed compared to sea freight, but challenges such as cost competitiveness and route flexibility hold it back. From a logistics perspective, this means that while rail freight will remain part of the mix for time-sensitive shipments or during disruptions, sea transport continues to claim the lion’s share of cargo movement due to its cost efficiency.

For logistics providers, this presents both a cautionary tale and an opportunity. The market’s tendency to revert to maritime freight after crises indicates that investments in rail infrastructure and services must be paired with improvements in pricing strategies, operational efficiency, and market adaptability to sustain growth.

Why This Matters for Cargo and Freight Operators

• Cost vs. speed trade-off: Rail is faster but pricier; sea lanes are slower but cheaper.
• Infrastructure focus: Poland’s growing role highlights the need for efficient transshipment hubs.
• Sector-specific impacts: Automotive freight slowdowns can dramatically affect volumes.

Personal Experience Trumps All

Numbers and reports give us a snapshot, but nothing beats firsthand experience when testing routes, costs, and transit times in real logistics operations. Platforms like GetTransport.com empower shippers and freight forwarders to tap into global cargo transport options with transparency and choice, supporting smarter decisions for office or home moves, bulky freight, vehicle, and furniture transport worldwide.

This accessibility allows businesses and individuals to experience different carriers’ offerings, pricing, and reliability firsthand, rather than relying solely on market reviews. It’s the transaction that tells the full story, and with GetTransport.com’s affordable and broad reach, that story gets easier to write. Book your ride and take advantage of the convenience and options available on GetTransport.com.

Looking Ahead: What It Means for Global Logistics

The current dip in China-EU rail freight may not revolutionize the global freight market overnight given rail’s niche role in this corridor. However, staying informed on such developments is crucial for logistics professionals aiming to navigate and adapt to changing trade flows and transportation preferences. As GetTransport.com keeps pace with evolving logistics landscapes, it offers users dependable solutions for cargo dispatch, haulage, international shipment, and relocation needs across the globe. Start planning your next delivery and secure your cargo with GetTransport.com.

Samenvatting

In short, rail freight volumes between China and the EU saw a significant 27% reduction in the first half of 2025, highlighting the continued dominance of maritime transport despite brief interruptions pushing shippers towards rail. The imbalance in trade flows and the concentration of traffic through Poland reflect ongoing shifts in international freight patterns. For logistics and freight forwarding businesses, these trends underscore the importance of multimodal strategies that balance speed, cost, and reliability. Leveraging platforms such as GetTransport.com provides access to competitive, transparent cargo transportation options worldwide, facilitating efficient shipment, moving, and relocation services. Whether it’s parcels, pallets, containers, or bulky goods, the right logistics partner can make all the difference in navigating today’s complex global supply chains.