Poland’s closure of border crossings with Belarus has halted the Yiwu-Europe Railway’s main route into Western Europe, creating significant disruption to rail freight shipments from China.

The Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe Railway, a rail freight route connecting Yiwu in Zhejiang Province with major European hubs such as Madrid, Hamburg, and London, has been severely disrupted following the closure of Poland’s border with Belarus in mid-September 2025.

The Polish government announced the move on national security grounds, cutting off the key rail corridor that carried a large share of Yiwu’s Europe-bound cargo. With trains unable to pass through Belarus into Poland, freight is now backing up at border stations, with operators forced to consider lengthy detours through alternative routes.

This disruption is expected to cause delivery delays, higher transportation costs, and increased congestion at border hubs. Importers using the rail link may face uncertainty over delivery schedules, with many shipments in transit left stranded.

The majority of Yiwu’s exports continue to move via sea freight through nearby ports such as Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shanghai, which remain fully operational.

Woodland Group’s compliance and operations teams are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to support clients with alternative solutions. For more information or tailored guidance, please contact your Woodland Group representative.