Forwarder's new multimodal route through Uzbekistan and Turkey targets high-volume shippers seeking airfreight alternative amid capacity concerns
Source: DHL Express
DHL Global Forwarding has launched a new truck-air service for the Asia-Europe trade that it hopes will “strike an optimal balance between cost and speed” and act as an alternative to airfreight.
Under the new model, goods are collected inland in China and transported by truck to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. There, shipments are loaded onto aircraft bound for Istanbul.
From Turkey, cargo can continue to other European destinations by road, sea, or air, depending on customer requirements.
The service is designed for high-volume and bulky shipments, DHL said.
Customers that have utilised the service over the past two months reported savings reaching six-figure sums on some shipments, though DHL noted that cost reductions varied.
Transit times from China to Turkey are estimated at nine to 11 days, compared with four to seven days via traditional airfreight.
DHL said the service responds to rising demand for “flexible and reliable logistics amid evolving global trade dynamics.”
It is particularly aimed at retail and other sectors requiring time-sensitive, high-volume transport solutions.
Aditi Rasquinha, chief executive of DHL Global Forwarding Greater China, said the new service is timely amid increasing pressure on global supply chains.
“Demand for agile and cost-efficient logistics solutions continues to rise, backed by sustained growth in China–Europe and broader Asia–Europe trade,” she said.
Rasquinha highlighted that the company’s latest market update anticipates tight capacity and rising rates ahead of Chinese New Year, with a peak in demand expected in early February 2026.
“Truckair helps customers manage short-term volatility while maintaining predictable lead times,” she said.
China’s total imports and exports of goods rose 3.6% in the first eleven months of 2025, signalling a steady recovery in trade momentum.
The European Union remained China’s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade up 5.4% year on year to RMB5.4trn.
“Truckair was developed to meet growing demand for greater flexibility and predictability in cross-border shipments, enabling businesses to control costs without compromising speed,” Rasquinha added.
