The first direct freight train from China arrived in Germany on the New Silk Road

Many shipping companies have pulled their vessels from the Suez Canal route as Houthi rebels in Yemen continue to fire at cargo ships. Some exporters are now using the overland rail route between China and Europe, with enquiries doubling since the Red Sea attacks began.

Over the past year, rates have fallen for container shipping from China (according to the Drewry World Container Index). Pricing has approached pre-crises levels. Will this trend be reflected in retail business, and what issues are transport operators concerned with? Retail.ru took these questions to key players on the market.