Diversification of Transport Links in the “Asia - Europe” Container Shipping Traffic

Abstract

In the modern foreign economic conditions, the development of container shipping through the system of international transport corridors in the Eurasian space is one of the key aspects in order to improve the national transport complex and to ensure the economic sustainability of the federal subjects of Russia. The object of this research is the «Asia-Europe» segment of the container transportation market, the research subject is to make assessment of the feasibility of the container shipping routes diversification in Eurasia.Aim. To consider the possibilities of the Russian transport system in conditions of restructuring supply chains and container shipping intensification through the international transport corridor “West - East”.Tasks. To identify the directions of increasing the competitiveness of the Russian Federation container system; to determine the main routes of the ITC “West - East» system; to implement the statistical analysis of container shipping data in Russia; to complete the comparative analysis of container transportation through ITC “West - East” and through alternative routes in the “Asia - Europe” connection.Methods. The collection of the data on the main ITC “West - East” routes in accordance with the following systems: Organisation for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD), Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), Directorate of International Transport Corridors (DITC), Russian Foreign Trade Academy (RFTA), Centr Ekonomiki Infrastruktury (CEK).Results. The research of the relevant container shipping routes of Russian goods in the current industry conditions and the consideration of the main advantages of containerized cargo delivery routes diversification in the “Asia - Europe” connection were carried out.Conclusions. The demand for container transportation routes passing through ITC “West - East” has increased in parallel with the process of cargo flows redirection. Diversification of containers delivery routes leads to significantly reduction of the transit time and support the development of the national transport system.