Inter-freight Logistics Department Report as of November 19, 2025

1. Delivery via the Baltics. Rate Movements. Departure Situation. Transit Times. Rail Dispatch from Klaipeda. Truck Dispatch from Klaipeda - news, nuances, situation at border crossings.

Direct rail shipments to Minsk are seeing a moderate increase in rates – the market is beginning to confirm an upward trend, and participants are forecasting further increases of approximately several hundred dollars in the coming weeks.
Transhipment times via Kazakhstan and Zabaikalsk remain unchanged.
Control continues on the Kazakhstan route: the number of inspections has increased, especially for cargo transiting to Russia and Belarus, resulting in additional costs for shippers. The overall trend is towards further tightening of inspection procedures, which is already reflected in rate dynamics.
China is also seeing stricter export controls. Goods that may contain rare earth elements require a confirmed shipper license. Without properly executed permits, the export of such cargo is impossible, necessitating more thorough documentation verification prior to shipment.

2. Delivery via the Far East. Rate Movements. Departure Situation from Ports. Rail Placement. Transit Times. Nuances.

Far East freight rates remain unchanged.
However, ship departures from Chinese ports remain delayed. The next actual departures have been shifted to late November and early December, which continues to put pressure on delivery schedules.
A key change during this period was the return of the STF line to the market under a new legal entity. Formally, the schedule has reopened, but market participants remain concerned about a repeat of past reliability issues.
Regarding the Nakhodka and VMTP railways, no significant changes have been noted: train departure times remain within the same time lags as before, depending on the rate of accumulation.
It is also important to consider the announced indexation: effective December 1, 2025, Russian Railways tariffs and associated fees will increase by 10%, which will ultimately impact the final cost of transportation on all routes through the Far East.

3. Direct Rail. Rate Movements. Departure Situation. Situation at Border Crossings. Transit Times.

In the maritime sector, rates have risen again in the run-up to the New Year, with both 20' and 40' containers affected – a trend that has been continuing for several weeks. The average transit time remains unchanged (50–55 days), but due to regular delays of 3–4 days, the transit time for some shipments still exceeds 65 days.
The situation for rail transport from Klaipėda to Šabanya remains unchanged: transit times after arrival at the port remain typical. However, due to the prolonged closure of road crossings, the load on the railway has increased, leading to a shortage of rolling stock and queues at the port. Lithuanian Railways has confirmed that a tariff increase is planned from January, but the parameters of the adjustment have not yet been disclosed.
Road transport remains limited: the border with Lithuania is still closed, but carriers report that it is likely to open next week.
Until the border reopens, all traffic will continue to be diverted to the railway.

4. Delivery via Novorossiysk. Rate Movements. Departure Situation. Transit Times. Nuances.

A slight decrease in rates has been recorded for sea freight, affecting both types of containers. There have been no significant changes in terms of transit times, which still take around 45–50 days, including transshipment, and shipping schedules remain stable.
The situation with exports to Minsk remains normal overall, but in recent weeks, customs has significantly tightened controls on transit items. Inspections are now being carried out more frequently, which leads to longer processing times for both container trucks and tarpaulin trucks. Road transport is available, but the speed of cargo release depends on the duration of inspections.
Otherwise, the route is functioning without systemic delays, and the infrastructure is operating as planned.

5. Delivery via St. Petersburg. Rate Movements. Departure Situation. Transit Times. Nuances.

In the maritime sector, rates remained unchanged for both 20' and 40' containers. Transit times remain in the range of 45-50 days, and the vessel schedule is operating steadily.

The situation with container truck deliveries to Minsk remains unchanged: vehicles are available, the search takes 1–2 days, customs clearance also takes place within the standard time frame, and transit takes 1–2 days. For tented transport, the operating mode remains the same: reloading and customs clearance take 3–5 days, and cargo preparation is carried out in advance.

Overall, the route is functioning without disruptions, and no significant restrictions or delays have been observed.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

6. Truck Delivery of Cargo from China. News. Nuances. Situation regarding dispatch of consolidated shipments to Temporary Storage Warehouses.

The upward trend in road transport continues: LTL rates remain at the same high level, with no noticeable decline, while FTL rates are rising again. Routes through Alashankou have become particularly expensive, while routes through Manchuria are showing more moderate dynamics, but also with an increase.
Delivery times have stabilized within 25-30 calendar days.
Brokers in Kazakhstan are reporting a new order: on routes to Russia and Belarus, inspection requirements have been tightened for certain categories – toys, electronics, consolidated cargo, footwear, and clothing. This is already leading to additional delays in processing.