Rail Deliveries from China to Russia Likely Slower Around Lunar New Year
Rail shipments carrying goods from China to Russia may experience delays as the Lunar New Year approaches, according to a report from Asia Import Group via RIA News. The holiday is set to begin on February 10, 2024, and non-operational status in Russia is expected to last for about two weeks from that date. As a result, shipments could take longer than usual beginning around February 4–5, with fewer workers at railway stations in China and some cargo lines paused until after the holiday period.
On average, parcels and goods traveling by rail from China to central Moscow stations require roughly 16 to 21 days of transit time under typical conditions. The holiday season disrupts typical schedules, and customers should anticipate potential slowdowns during this window.
Industry observers note a surge in Chinese-flagged deliveries to Russia in the lead-up to the New Year. Data from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China shows that Russian buyers increased demand for overland rail transport in 2023, with reported rail-related trade valued at about $22.52 billion, up from $6.28 billion in 2022. The total value of goods shipped from China to Russia was estimated at around $110.97 billion for the year, marking a gain of nearly 47 percent compared with two years prior. These figures illustrate a robust, continuing trend of growing bilateral trade by land transport routes between the two nations.
There is also a note that earlier in the year China doubled its purchases of aluminum and vegetable oil from Russia, highlighting the evolution of material flows across the region and the broader impact on supply chains tied to commodities and industrial inputs.