Małaszewicze and the New Silk Road: Poland’s Gateway Between Europe and Asia

The terminals of Małaszewicze play a pivotal role in intermodal freight transport between Asia and Europe. Thanks to its strategic location, Poland has become one of the most important transit countries for cargo moving into the European market. During the Intermodal Poland 2026 Congress, industry experts highlighted the need for further investment in the region to maintain its competitiveness and strengthen its position within Eurasian logistics networks.

Congress participants had the opportunity to visit the AGROSTOP intermodal terminal in Małaszewicze. The technical tour was organised with the support of CLIP Group, ADAMPOL and HYSTER-YALE, and RAILTARGET was also present. Covering an area of 28 hectares, the terminal handles far more than container traffic. It is equipped to process coal, fertilisers, iron ore, steel and other commodities weighing up to 150 tonnes. The facility is served by both 1,435 mm standard-gauge and 1,520 mm broad-gauge railway tracks, allowing efficient transhipment between European and Eurasian rail systems.

The first piece of equipment demonstrated to visitors was a rail-mounted gantry crane operated by CLIP Group, illustrating the scale of cargo-handling operations carried out at the terminal.

Guests were then shown a HYSTER container handler in operation, transferring a container onto a railway wagon.

Visitors also had the opportunity to observe rail freight operations directly on site, while representatives of FIREMAX presented an automated guided vehicle (AGV), which performed a live demonstration in front of attendees.

A Strategic Hub on the New Silk Road

Małaszewicze is widely regarded as one of the most important hubs on the New Silk Road, linking Asia and Europe through rail freight corridors. Import and export cargo continues to move through neighbouring Brest, Belarus and Russia, making the region a key gateway for Eurasian trade flows.

Despite sanctions, geopolitical tensions and administrative challenges, the corridor remains operational and continues to serve as an important route for rail freight between China and Europe.

Investment Needed to Secure Future Growth

The future of Małaszewicze was one of the central topics discussed during the congress. Industry representatives broadly agreed that the area requires significant infrastructure investment if Poland is to strengthen its ambition of becoming one of Europe's leading intermodal logistics hubs.

At the same time, geopolitical developments remain a major consideration for investors, logistics providers and rail operators. According to representatives of METRANS, an important question remains whether Małaszewicze will be able to maintain its long-term competitiveness amid growing competition from alternative corridors and ongoing concerns regarding freight volumes.

_{Sources: RAILTARGET, Terminale Intermodalne}