Chinese freight trains transiting through Turkey en route to Europe
Turkey Strengthens Role as a Logistics Hub for China-Europe Freight Trains
Two China-Europe freight trains arrived in Istanbul on Aug. 4, marking a significant milestone in Turkey's growing role as a logistics hub. The arrival followed the signing of cooperation agreements at the Global Transport Corridors Forum held in June, which aimed to make Turkey a hub that manages and organizes freight flows and creates value in logistics.
The freight trains, which originated from Chinese cities like Chongqing and Chengdu, traversed Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway before entering Turkish territory. The trains carried a total of 98 containers and completed their journey to Turkey in 15 days.
The arrival ceremony was attended by Turkish State Railways (TCDD) officials, deputy transport and infrastructure ministers Osman Boyraz and Enver İskurt, and representatives from 80 countries who gathered in Turkey to boost international logistics cooperation. The trains were welcomed at Marmaray railway's Halkalı station.
In the long term, it is planned to operate 1,500 block train services annually on this corridor. The goal is to reduce the transit time to less than 10 days for the China-Europe freight trains, offering significant time and cost savings compared to the northern and southern corridors.
Turkey's strategic importance as a logistics hub for China-Europe freight trains is multifaceted. Its geostrategic location links Asia and Europe physically, enabling freight trains to reach European destinations via Istanbul, thereby facilitating East-West trade.
Moreover, Turkey is advancing from merely a transit country to one that actively manages, organizes freight flows, and creates value in logistics. This transformation is supported by substantial investment—nearly $300 billion over 23 years—in transport and communication infrastructure, including extensive rail network expansion.
The Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian route) offers significant time and cost savings and complements other rail routes by adding route diversity, resilience in global trade, and regional economic integration. Turkey aims to scale rail services up to 1,000 to 1,500 trains annually on this corridor.
The cooperation agreements also aim to promote energy efficiency, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. Turkish officials emphasize these goals in developing this corridor, aligning trade logistics with these objectives.
In summary, Turkey's significance lies in its role as a crucial logistics hub that enhances connectivity, reduces transit times and costs between China and Europe, and drives regional economic integration and trade resilience via the Middle Corridor. This role is expected to continue growing as Turkey continues to invest in its infrastructure and strengthen its international logistics cooperation.
[1] Global Trade Magazine, "Turkey's Middle Corridor Rail Route: A Strategic Logistics Hub for China-Europe Freight Trains," link
[2] Railway Technology, "Turkey and China boost logistics cooperation with new freight trains," link
[3] World Economic Forum, "Turkey's Belt and Road Initiative: A New Silk Road for Asia," link
[4] Railway Gazette International, "Turkey's Baku-Tbilisi-Kars line to handle 1 500 freight trains a year," link
[5] Anadolu Agency, "Turkey's Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to boost trade with China," link
- As Turkey continues to invest in its infrastructure, it is anticipated that the country will become a significant player in various industries such as finance, due to the increased opportunities for banking services supporting growing international trade.
- In the aerospace sector, Turkey's strategic location and expanding logistics capabilities may attract more partnerships with global players, particularly in the transportation of goods along the Middle Corridor and beyond.
