The closure of the border between Poland and Belarus has frozen one of the most important rail freight routes between China and the European Union. With annual trade flows worth €25 billion, Beijing is exerting growing pressure on Warsaw to reopen the border as soon as possible.
Why is this route important?
Some 90% of rail freight between China and the EU passes through Poland. In 2024, rail freight volumes rose by 10.6%, with cargo valued at €25.07 billion – an 84.9% increase compared to 2023. Rail now accounts for 3.7% of EU–China trade, up from 2.1% the previous year, according to figures from transport market analysts Upply.
Why did Poland close the crossings?
The decision followed the start of Zapad 2025, joint Russian–Belarusian military exercises and came shortly after Russian drones violated Polish airspace. Poland has shut down three rail crossings, as well as one for cars and another for lorries, “until further notice.”
The political consequences are equally significant. Beijing, which maintains close ties with Moscow and Minsk, is demanding the immediate restoration of the rail link. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski in Warsaw.
A Chinese government spokesman declared: “We hope that Poland will take effective measures to ensure the safe and smooth operation of the trade route, as well as the stability of international industrial and supply chains.” He added: “The China–Europe Railway Express is a flagship project of China–Poland and China–EU cooperation. This project benefits both sides.”
Following the ministerial summit, where the closed border dominated discussions, Polish foreign ministry spokesman Paweł Wroński stressed: “We drew our Chinese partners’ attention to Russia’s destructive actions, and we hope that Beijing will join international efforts to counter them.”
On the border issue, Wroński said: “We have taken a decision that is costly for Poland as well, but it had to be made due to repeated provocations from Belarus. First you take care of security, and only afterwards do you count the costs.”
What is the business impact?
The surge in freight traffic has largely been driven by the expansion of Chinese e-commerce giants such as Temu and Shein across Europe. Now, however, serious disruptions are expected. According to Marek Różycki, CEO of logistics firm Last Mile Experts: “If this route is closed, some parcels would have to be shipped by sea, and up to a third by air. This will affect both costs and operational quality.”
Polish companies are also bracing for losses but remain cautiously optimistic about a swift resolution. Piotr Sadza, president of PKP Cargo Connect, explained: “If the border closure lasts only a few days, it won’t be a major problem. Trains from China can wait in Belarus. We will only lose money on the extra handling.” He added: “There is no good alternative to rail freight between China and the EU. Businesses simply have to adapt to the circumstances for now.”
via TVP World