CEVA opens Alashankou hub to expand Eurasian road freight
The facility has been positioned to support cargo movement between Chinese manufacturing centres and markets in Central Asia and Europe.
CEVA Logistics has inaugurated an automated distribution centre in Alashankou, China, expanding its ground transport network connecting China, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe. The new 4,300-square-metre facility is located in the Alashankou Free Trade Zone in Northwest China, close to the Kazakhstan-China border, and is now fully operational as a consolidation point for Less-than-Truckload shipments and integrated International Road Transport solutions.
The opening marks a further step in CEVA Logistics’ expansion of cross-border road freight operations along the Eurasian trade corridor, as companies seek alternatives and complementary options to ocean and rail freight services between Asia and Europe. Representatives from CEVA, customers and local government officials attended the inauguration ceremony.
The facility has been positioned to support cargo movement between Chinese manufacturing centres and markets in Central Asia and Europe. CEVA said the location allows it to complete cargo consolidation and onwards transit within six to 12 hours through local customs procedures, helping accelerate freight movement across the Kazakhstan-China border.
The site integrates a Warehouse Management System with RFID and AI-based measurement technologies to automate warehouse operations. CEVA said electric autonomous forklifts are being used to manage inbound and outbound cargo flows, while a centralised control platform connects order management with customs status tracking in real time. Trucks operating through the hub are also equipped with GPS and IoT sensors to provide shipment visibility for customers handling cross-border cargo.
Technology companies are among the customers already using the facility. CEVA said Lenovo is utilising the hub for transport operations between China and Kazakhstan. The company has also introduced heavy-duty electric trucks to move cargo from manufacturing plants across China to the Alashankou consolidation centre before onward movement into Kazakhstan.
According to CEVA, the use of electric vehicles and consolidated freight operations through the new facility could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 46 per cent compared with conventional transport solutions.
The Alashankou centre is also supporting CEVA’s cross-border Less-than-Truckload service connecting Shenzhen and Suzhou in China with Tashkent in Uzbekistan. The logistics company said the facility has helped reduce transit times on the route from around 20 days to between nine and 11 days for small and medium cargo volumes.
The launch comes as trade and logistics activity through Alashankou continues to rise. The border city has become an important gateway for freight flows between China and Central Asia, supported by road, rail and customs infrastructure investments aimed at strengthening connectivity along Eurasian trade corridors.
During the inauguration ceremony, CEVA received the ‘Silk Road Innovation International Cross-border Logistics Excellence Award’ from the local government in recognition of its cross-border logistics operations and investment in the region.
CEVA Logistics said the facility will help it respond to increasing demand for cross-border ground freight services while supporting lower-emission transport operations across Eurasia.
Kelvin Tang, APAC Ground & Rail Leader, CEVA Logistics, said: “Alashankou is a strategic gateway along the China–Central Asia–Caucasus Region–Europe corridor. In 2025, total throughput across Alashankou exceeded 29 million tons, with ground volumes up 8.6% year-over-year. With our Alashankou logistics hub now operational, we are well positioned to meet rising demand and advance our sustainability commitments through innovative, lower carbon cross-border solutions.”
Wei Wei, Vice Mayor of Alashankou, said: “The official launch of CEVA’s Alashankou hub represents a strong recognition of the city’s strategic location as a key port of entry, open trade platforms, and business-friendly environment. The facility will further enhance cross-border logistics capabilities, drive broader industry growth, deepen connectivity across Asia–Europe trade corridors, and further strengthen Alashankou's role as a key international logistics gateway.”