Last week, the Mercium team was in Shanghai exhibiting at Transport Logistic Shanghai 2026 — the Asian chapter of one of the world's most significant logistics trade fair series. Held from 24–26 June at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, it was a significant step in how we're positioning Mercium on the international stage.
What transport logistic is
Transport logistic is a global series of trade fairs organised by Messe München — the flagship runs in Munich and is widely regarded as the most important gathering in the global freight industry. The Shanghai edition is its Asian chapter, and last week it brought together over 900 exhibitors from 50+ countries across 50,000 square metres covering air, road, rail, sea, warehousing, and supply chain tech.
Mercium was one of those 900+ exhibitors — on the floor alongside some of the biggest names in global freight.
Why we exhibited
China is central to how global supply chains work. Whether you're moving goods into the UK from Chinese manufacturers, or shipping outbound cargo from Europe into Asia, the relationships, routes, and technology you need run through this market. Transport logistic Shanghai is where those conversations happen at scale.
For Mercium, exhibiting wasn't a vanity exercise — it was a deliberate move to put ourselves in front of the partners, carriers, and decision-makers who operate at the heart of Asia's freight ecosystem. Every freight solution we offer is only as good as the network behind it, and building that network means showing up where it matters.
What stood out
A few themes made a strong impression over the three days.
Rail is having a moment. One of the headline launches at this year's show is the China Railway Express Joint Pavilion — a dedicated space for CRE operators, connecting China with Europe via the transcontinental rail network. For clients who ship between Europe and Asia, rail is increasingly competitive on cost and transit time for certain cargo types. It's worth understanding.
AI is reshaping road transport. A significant thread running through the conference is the role of AI and big data in optimising China's road transport network — route planning, load efficiency, real-time visibility. The technology is maturing quickly, and the implications for cross-border freight are real.
The corridors are diversifying. From Kazakhstan Railways to the Middle Corridor operators, there's a clear push to develop alternative transit routes between Asia and Europe. This directly affects routing options for goods moving between the UK and China, and it's something we're watching closely.
What it means for our clients
Being on the exhibition floor put us directly in front of the carriers, operators, and technology providers shaping the next phase of global freight. The partnerships and conversations we had over those three days feed directly into the solutions we bring to clients — better routes, stronger carrier relationships, and a sharper view of what's coming.
If you move freight between the UK and Asia, or you're navigating supply chain challenges involving Chinese manufacturing or distribution, we'd be glad to talk through what we saw and what it means for you. Get in touch with the Mercium team.
