Poland Closes Border, China-Europe Railway Service Disrupted

Summary: On September 13, Poland ordered the closure of all border crossings with Belarus, including both road and rail routes. This has directly caused a disruption of the China-Europe Railway (CER) service in the Polish section.

The China-Europe Railway, departing from China, typically passes through Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus, eventually entering the European standard-gauge network via Polish ports such as Malczyce. The Polish section is one of the main entry routes for CER into Europe.

There are seven CER lines, all passing through Russia, Belarus, and Poland. Poland serves as a key hub for CER into Central and Western Europe, handling more than 30% of the railway’s cargo capacity.

Currently, trains are suspended at key points including the Malczyce station in Poland. Drivers and logistics personnel have temporarily stopped work, resulting in numerous trains and containers being stranded.

⚠️ Trigger Event: Between the night of September 9 and the early hours of September 10, the Polish military announced that it had shot down several suspected Russian drones. This marked the first direct military engagement between a NATO member (Poland) and Russia since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Subsequently, concerned about potential security threats from the joint Russia-Belarus military exercise “Zapad-2025” (September 12–16 in Belarus and western Russia), the Polish government closed border crossings with Belarus for security reasons, leading to the disruption of CER transportation.

⚠️ Impact of the Disruption: The disruption is primarily limited to the Polish section of the CER, especially the rail connection between Belarus and Poland. This route carries a significant portion of overland high-speed cargo in China-Europe trade, including electronics, auto parts, and machinery. The disruption is expected to cause supply chain delays, forcing companies to switch to sea or air transport alternatives, which are more costly and slower. Other routes, such as southern lines via Turkey or the Baltic Sea, remain operational.

⚠️ Duration: Reports indicate that this is a temporary security measure. Borders may gradually reopen after the military exercises conclude on September 16. However, Poland has not specified an exact reopening date, and the impact is expected to last until the end of September. Logistics companies are advised to activate alternative routes, such as combined sea-rail transport via the Caspian or Black Sea.