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China launches Central Asia land corridor to route freight toward Afghanistan
The 7,400 km route is designed to cut delivery times to about 30 days, compared with two to three months via sea-and-land paths through Iran or Pakistan.
China is expanding overland freight routes through Central Asia as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz highlight the risks of relying on maritime shipping chokepoints, according to SCMP Economy.
The new multi-modal corridor, officially launched in May with pilot shipments, moves containers by rail from China through Kazakhstan into Uzbekistan, then by road via Turkmenistan to Herat in western Afghanistan.
SCMP Economy reports that the route is about 7,400 km and is intended to reduce delivery times by up to two-thirds, with shipments taking around 30 days rather than two to three months using traditional sea-and-land routes through Iran or Pakistan.
The report notes that observers see constraints ahead, including security concerns and capacity limits, which could make a full shift away from sea freight difficult.