Logistics Summary as of August 31, 2026

1. Direct Rail. Rate Movements. Exit Situation. Border Crossing Situation. Transit Times.

Direct rail shipment rates to Minsk continue to increase both via Kazakhstan and Zabaikalsk. The increase via Kazakhstan is approximately USD 300, while via Zabaikalsk it is approximately USD 400.
Transhipment times have decreased slightly to approximately 5-15 days via Kazakhstan and 5-18 days via Zabaikalsk.
For shipments via Zabaikalsk, train departure times remain staggered due to unconfirmed or adjusted dispatch plans by rail operators. For urgent cargo, it is recommended to consider shipment via Kazakhstan, provided that the goods are suitable for this route according to the HS codes.

2. Delivery via the Far East. Rate movement. Departures from ports. Railroad placement. Transit times. Nuances.

Sea freight rates for deliveries via the Far East remain unchanged. The change in final rates is due to the conversion of exchange rates for the rail portion: a reduction of approximately USD 50 for 20' containers and approximately USD 250 for 40' containers.
However, vessel departure delays at ports remain: on average, approximately 8-12 days, and in some regions, typhoons can reach 14-18 days. Sea freight rates for through services are expected to increase from September 1, 2026: USD 100 for 20' containers from Shanghai via the ports of VSK and VMTP, and USD 150 for 40' containers from Ningbo via the same ports.
Rail freight rates are showing a significant increase. Therefore, we recommend rechecking departure rates in September. The waiting time for rail transport from the ports of Nakhodka and VMTP is approximately 14 days. Transit processing times have increased to 7 days due to increased customs controls and the redirection of containers for additional procedures.

Additionally, there is a backlog of containers at the ports of VMTP and Nakhodka: trains are formed in a queue, and space on trains is pre-allocated. Due to the imbalance between the volume of incoming containers and the available number of platforms, train departures continue to be delayed.

3. Delivery via the Baltics. Rate movements. Departure status. Transit times. Rail pickup from Klaipeda. Road pickup from Klaipeda.

Sea freight rates from China via the Baltics continue to decline. For 20' containers, the reduction is approximately USD 150, and for 40' containers, approximately USD 600. Rates are valid for the first half of September. Transit times remain at 60+ days.
Rail shipments from Klaipeda to Shabany are operating as usual. After a container arrives at the port, loading onto a platform takes 1-3 days, and delivery to Shabany takes approximately 9 days. The extended transit time is due to the occupancy rate at the Minsk-Sortirovochny station. Returning an empty container takes approximately 7 days.
Feeder vessels arrive approximately 90% of the time with a 20-25 day delay. There is no shortage of rental platforms, but general fleet platforms must be reserved in advance. The wait is approximately 4-6 days for the KKT depot and approximately 7 days for the Smelte depot.
Road shipments from Klaipeda are also operating as usual. After unloading a container, vehicle stowage takes 2-5 days, and delivery to the customs clearance point takes approximately 3-4 days. Returning an empty container takes 7 days or more, depending on border queues.
Feeder vessels continue to arrive with staggered arrivals of 20-25 days. Crane handling occurs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Vehicle stowage is possible within 1-3 days of the container's arrival at the port. However, returning empty containers remains challenging: approximately 20-25 vehicles are handled at the border per day.

4. Delivery via Novorossiysk. Rate movement. Departure situation. Transit times. Nuances.

For shipments from China via Novorossiysk, sea freight rates remain at the base period level for 20-foot containers. For 40-foot containers, an increase of approximately USD 100 is observed. Transit times remain at 60-65 days.
Service to Novorossiysk remains limited due to the tense situation in the Black Sea. Many shipping lines have stopped calling at Novorossiysk or are adjusting routes. Additional military risk surcharges are being introduced for cargo in transit and new shipments. The situation on this route remains tense and continues to deteriorate.
For container outbound shipments to Minsk, rates are available upon request only, with quotes valid for approximately 7 days. Port operations are intermittent due to constant drone attacks. Customs authorities are subjecting cargo to additional screening measures, including inspection and weighing, which may impact processing times.
Removal by curtain-sided transport through repacking is also being carried out, taking into account the current situation at the port. Port disruptions due to drone attacks and additional customs controls continue to impact processing times.

5. Cargo Trucking. News. Details. Situation with the removal of consolidated cargo to temporary storage warehouses.

For delivery via St. Petersburg, sea freight rates remain unchanged for both 20' and 40' containers. The estimated transit time for direct service is 45-50 days.
However, there remains a possibility of rate increases and the introduction of additional military surcharges due to the current situation in Novorossiysk. Service via the NSR is also available; however, when using it, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the route: low temperatures, high humidity, and restrictions on the transportation of hazardous goods.
Container pickup in the direction of Minsk is carried out as usual. The search for a vehicle takes approximately 1-3 days, and the transit time is approximately 1-1.5 days.
Removal by covered transport is also carried out as usual. It is recommended to begin preparations for repacking at least 5 days before the scheduled date.