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Title: An empirical study of Sino-European trade geographic regional competition under the belt and road and Arctic routes based on transportation cost equilibrium line model

Authors: Manling Zhang; Tianming Ding; Chaojun Ding

Addresses: School of Naval Architecture and Maritime, Zhejiang Ocean University, Changzhi Island Sea Road 1#, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316022, China ' School of Naval Architecture and Maritime, Zhejiang Ocean University, Changzhi Island Sea Road 1#, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316022, China ' School of Naval Architecture and Maritime, Zhejiang Ocean University, Changzhi Island Sea Road 1#, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316022, China

Abstract: With the advancement of globalisation and the growth in trade activities, the demand for goods transportation between China and Europe has been continuously increasing. Faced with the ever-growing demand for cargo transportation, the commercial application of Arctic routes has presented new opportunities. In the new landscape of the traditional Suez Canal route (SCR), China-Europe freight trains, and Arctic routes, starting from China-Europe trade, utilising China's railway freight rates and maritime data, incorporating the time value cost of goods into freight calculations, and constructing a transportation cost equilibrium analysis model, we aim to explore the competitive advantages of Arctic routes, the SCR, and China-Europe freight trains in different regions. The results show that it is most economical to transport containerised goods from the northern and eastern regions of China through Arctic routes.

Keywords: Arctic routes; Suez Canal route; China-Europe Railway Express; time value cost of goods; advantageous competitive region partition.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2025.147404

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2025 Vol.20 No.3, pp.381 - 405

Received: 03 Oct 2023
Accepted: 24 Mar 2024
Published online: 15 Jul 2025 *