In October, the Belarusian freight transport market faced a number of important changes. Key events of the month: the closure of the Lithuanian border, the possible resumption of work at Polish checkpoints and the simplification of visa conditions with Turkey.
Lithuania: border closure and new routes
The most high-profile event is that Lithuania suspended the operation of the automobile border with Belarus until at least November 30, 2025. Almost 5,000 Lithuanian trucks, which were on the territory of Belarus at the time of the closure, are in limbo. They will be able to leave only after the border is opened – in response, Belarus limited the movement of cars with Lithuanian license plates exclusively to the Lithuanian section. As a result, traffic jams and queues have formed on these routes.
According to the Belarusian customs service, of the 5 thousand trucks and trailers remaining in Belarus after the border was closed, Lithuanian control services allowed only 180 combinations (truck and trailer) into their territory in five days.
The market has long since learned to live under conditions of constant restrictions, believes Tatyana Soldatenko. According to her, logisticians are already joking that the main trend of the year is “alternative logistics.” Carriers are again looking for bypass routes. Increasingly – through Turkey. But such pleasure is more expensive and takes more time.
Poland: possible resumption of checkpoint operations
Poland is considering opening two checkpoints as early as November. Initially, they were going to open them earlier, but after Vilnius’s decision, Warsaw slowed down so as not to aggravate the situation on other routes.
According to Soldatenko, the Polish government could have been prompted by an appeal from the local Association of International Road Carriers—they are asking for an urgent resolution to the chaos at the border. As a reminder, in September, Poland completely closed the crossing with Belarus for two weeks. Then hundreds of their trucks were stuck in our country. The queues are already huge: drivers have to wait for weeks.
Turkey: simplification of visa requirements
Belarus has ratified the protocol on the abolition of visas for international carriers. After the changes come into force, drivers will be able to stay in the partner country for up to 90 days in a row over a six-month period instead of the current 30.
This is a significant advantage for carriers. The average round-trip takes 35-40 days—previously, drivers risked not completing the delivery on time. Moreover, Turkey has become one of the key trade routes with the EU after the introduction of sanctions, so easing conditions here is especially welcome.
