Maersk is reported to have launched a new rail-sea service linking Asia with Europe through Central Asia to respond to its customers' changing supply chain needs in these extraordinary times.

The new service connects China and Europe via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Romania from various parts of China in approximately 40 days.

Specifically, after passing through the Khorgos border between China and Kazakhstan, the containers are transported by rail to Aktau station and then barge to Baku, Azerbaijan. After that, the containers are transported by rail to the APM terminal in Poti, Georgia, where they are loaded onto a feeder's vessel to Constanta, Romania. Finally, the cargo is shipped by rail to various destinations in various European countries.

Maia Parlagashvili, global product manager for Intercontinental Rail at Maersk, commented: "This improved service comes at the right time to help alleviate the current logistics dilemma. We have listened to our customers and developed this solution to provide them with an alternative to intermodal transport between Asia and Europe."

Maia Parlagashvili added that the corridor has enough open capacity to enable our customers to enhance the resilience of their supply chains by offering alternative routes for sea and air services.

Maersk began developing this new route back in March and has already made its first departure from China in April to serve customers in the household goods, automotive and household appliances sectors.

The company has now solidified its position in the Middle Corridor by making the service schedules stable.