Poland closes the last checkpoint for Russian trucks: queues have grown by tens of kilometers

It must be said that for our freight transport, the direct road to the EU countries was closed a year ago, as a result of extensive economic sanctions. However, the flow of goods went on: usually the trucks stopped at the Polish-Belarusian border, where trailers were re-coupled or cargo was transshipped – and then they were transported by European carriers. And vice versa – if the goods came from Europe.

As you know, due to trade wars, imports to Russia from EU countries have recently decreased by 40-50%. We buy mainly medicines and medical equipment, some industrial products. There is also a flow of goods from Moscow to the Old World – as a rule, grain crops and mineral fertilizers.

According to experts, the closure of the last checkpoint on the Belarusian-Polish border is, of course, bad, but not catastrophic. On the way to Europe and back, the light did not converge like a wedge on the “Polish corridor”. There are other transport opportunities to maintain trade relations with the countries of the European Union. For example, through the Kaliningrad region and the same Belarus.

It is now clear that due to the reorientation of flows, the cost of freight vehicles in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will increase by about 15-25%. As the retail price of transported goods will rise. However, domestic analysts argue that the Baltic States will withstand the additional transport load. This was until 2021, when new economic restrictions began to be imposed on Moscow.

The situation may worsen if the Baltic states follow the sad example of Warsaw. They will take it and close their border crossings for us (and Belarusians). After all, there is no economic expediency in the actions of the European authorities, their actions are dictated by political reasons. Brussels will tell the Balts “no way” – and Russia will remain cut off from Europe, like an iceberg in the ocean.

Although no, in this case there is one last possibility: the southern border, through Turkey. This is already a plan “B” in the field of finding logistics ways. But the authorities have it and it is quite real. Although with additional costs. The cost of the route will increase by 50-70%, and the delivery time of goods can increase up to 30-35 days.

“A ferry service has been established from Italy to Turkey, goods from Europe will be able to enter our country in this way,” Bogdan Antonenko, chairman of the board of the United Association of Carriers, told MK.

– Will Turkey’s transport infrastructure be able to withstand such a strong earthquake?

– Imports from the EU have been greatly reduced, it is not millions of tons of cargo. In addition, the natural disaster affected mainly the southern part of the country. And ferry crossings to Russia from Istanbul and Samsun are located in the north. There are also logistics complexes and hubs that work with Russian partners. Of course, the cost of concluded contracts and the terms for the delivery of goods, the number of transshipment points will increase. All this increases the burden and should be prepared for certain financial losses.

– Do your carriers see any other changes in trade with the EU countries?

– Yes, we can say that such relations are maintained. For example, a group of goods is gradually expanding, which is regulated by the government and which is allowed to be imported through parallel imports. In particular, supplies of spare parts for imported cars revived.

– In general, will Poland’s decision to close the “road to Europe” for our heavy trucks hit transport companies hard?

– Changing logistics will increase costs. It is one thing to go through Poland, another thing is to make a detour through other countries, where there are toll roads, prices, and their own “charter”. But we are prepared for any surprises.

We asked Taras Koval, an expert in the field of transport and logistics, how the transport collapse will affect consumers.

– While it is very difficult to assess the consequences. The Poles took advantage of their geographical position and added new sanctions to those already in place. In fact, they blocked the movement of those goods that are still allowed to be imported and exported. They act very hard.

– Who will suffer more from the closure of the checkpoint?

– Probably, all sides: Europeans, Belarusians, and us. First of all, from the point of view of consignees and consignors, Russia will suffer. Belarusian logistics companies will also feel the negative consequences of this ban.

– But there are other checkpoints. Logistics will not be frozen one hundred percent?

– Of course not. There remains, for example, a checkpoint on the border with Latvia. The problem is that its bandwidth is much less. And given the tense political situation, I would not be surprised if the Latvians follow the example of the Poles and consider closing the Burachki/Terekhovo checkpoint. Logistics will go slowly, but will not stop.