Russian Railways is on track to set a new record for freight volumes with China in 2026, Chief Executive Officer Oleg Belozerov announced during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
The state-owned carrier highlighted a 3% increase in shipments to Belarus as part of a broader strategy to expand cross-border logistics capacity with its eastern neighbor.
8% increase year-on-year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.
The expansion of rail freight between Russia and China reflects a structural shift in Eurasian trade flows, as companies seek to diversify supply chains away from traditional western routes.
Increased rail capacity supports the growing volume of energy and commodity exports from Russia to Asia, reinforcing the strategic importance of the Trans-Siberian and related corridors.
This development aligns with broader trends in Sino-Russian trade.
In the first half of 2026, China imported 3.59 million metric tons of Russian liquefied natural gas, a 27.8% increase year-on-year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.