New Multi-Modal Trade Route Links China to Afghanistan via Uzbekistan
A fresh trade artery has been established to connect China with Afghanistan, relying heavily on Uzbekistan as a crucial transit hub. According to the rail container operator Uztemiryulkonteyner, this newly launched corridor integrates both rail and road networks to streamline the movement of goods across the region.
The logistics operation begins on the railway, with shipping containers passing through the Altynkol station in Kazakhstan before arriving at a major distribution centre in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Once at the facility, the cargo is unloaded and transferred onto heavy goods vehicles. From Bukhara, the lorries travel south through Turkmenistan before reaching their final destination in the Afghan city of Herat.
Historically, businesses had to rely on a significantly lengthier and more complex supply chain. Previous shipments were typically sent by sea to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas before undertaking an arduous overland journey into Afghanistan.
Spanning approximately 7,400 kilometres, the updated overland route takes an average of 30 days to complete. This strategic bypass drastically accelerates delivery schedules and provides regional trade with a far more flexible logistics solution.
