A new multimodal trade corridor through Central Asia is expected to cut cargo transit times between China and Afghanistan from 55 to 30 days, offering an alternative to increasingly unstable maritime shipping routes.

The new route, combining rail and road infrastructure across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, reflects a broader shift towards overland trade corridors as global supply chains come under growing geopolitical and logistical pressure.

Under the new system, cargo is transported by rail from China through the Altynkol station in Kazakhstan before continuing across Uzbekistan to the Bukhara logistics hub operated by Uztemiryulkonteyner. Containers are then transferred to lorries for delivery through Turkmenistan to the Afghan city of Herāt, creating an integrated multimodal corridor linking western China with Afghanistan.

Maritime disruptions drive shift to land routes

The launch comes at a time when international shipping routes remain vulnerable to disruption. Until now, cargo moving between China and Afghanistan was transported mainly by sea via the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas before continuing overland into Afghanistan. That route has frequently faced delays caused by port congestion, instability along Middle Eastern shipping lanes and security concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

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Recent instability in the Red Sea has placed additional strain on global maritime trade, driving up insurance premiums and increasing transport costs for shipping companies. Against that backdrop, governments and logistics operators across Eurasia have intensified efforts to develop alternative overland corridors capable of bypassing congested maritime chokepoints.

Faster deliveries and lower costs expected

Analysts say the new Central Asian route could improve the reliability and predictability of cargo deliveries while lowering transit costs through a shorter and more direct logistics chain. The corridor is also expected to reduce dependence on maritime shipping routes that have become increasingly exposed to geopolitical risk.

The Afghan city of Herāt is expected to play a central role in the new corridor. Historically one of Afghanistan’s main commercial centres, the city has long served as a strategic gateway linking Iran, Central Asia and South Asia. Its inclusion in the route could strengthen its position as a regional logistics hub and deepen Afghanistan’s trade links with neighbouring countries and the Chinese market.

Transit time nearly halved

The total length of the corridor is approximately 7,400 kilometres. According to project participants, the new route reduces delivery times from 55 days to around 30, almost halving the time required for cargo shipments between China and Afghanistan.

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