Airfreight disruptions push shippers to explore China–Europe road transport

• Escalating Middle East tensions are disrupting major air cargo routes between Asia and Europe, causing longer transit times and volatility in airfreight availability, prompting shippers to explore alternative logistics corridors.
• Long-distance road transport via Central Asia is gaining traction as a flexible alternative for time-sensitive and high-value cargo, offering door-to-door transit times of 14-18 days between China (Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Qingdao, Chengdu) and European markets (Germany, France, Benelux, Italy, Spain, UK, Poland).
• The corridor is expanding beyond China to manufacturing hubs in Vietnam and Cambodia, benefiting from improved infrastructure and border procedures in Central Asia, and highlighting the importance of modal flexibility alongside airfreight and rail.

Disruptions to air cargo routes between Asia and Europe, triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East, are prompting shippers to reassess their transport strategies and explore alternative logistics corridors for time-sensitive freight. Several major air corridors linking Asia and Europe are currently facing rerouting and longer flight paths. For companies relying on predictable delivery schedules, this is increasing transit times and creating volatility in airfreight availability.

The route has been increasingly used for time-sensitive and high-value cargo as companies seek alternatives between airfreight and rail. As a result, logistics providers are reporting increased interest in long-distance road transport between China and Europe, a corridor that has gradually matured in recent years as an alternative to both rail and sea freight. In addition to China, some logistics providers are also extending these road corridors to manufacturing hubs in Vietnam and Cambodia, linking Southeast Asia with European markets via Central Asia.

"Disruptions to major air corridors between Asia and Europe are already forcing shippers to reassess their transport options," said Beata Uziene, Head of Intercontinental Solutions at Girteka. "In situations like this, companies start looking for solutions that offer both speed and predictability. Long-distance road transport between China and Europe can provide exactly that." "Road transport via Central Asia offers door-to-door transit times of roughly 14 to 18 days between China and Europe," Uziene explained. "It sits between airfreight and rail in terms of speed, but with much greater flexibility because the cargo remains on the same transport unit throughout the journey."

The corridor connects major Chinese production hubs - including Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Qingdao and Chengdu - with key European markets such as Germany, France, the Benelux region, Italy, Spain, UK and Poland, typically crossing Central Asia before entering the European Union. Industry observers note that improvements in infrastructure and border procedures across Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan, have made the route increasingly viable for high-value and time-sensitive cargo. "When air cargo corridors become uncertain, supply chains start rediscovering the value of road transport between Asia and Europe," Uziene added.

Airfreight will remain essential for the fastest shipments, but the current disruptions are highlighting the importance of modal flexibility and diversified transport corridors in global supply chains.