Baku: Ensuring return cargo on the Middle Corridor is one of the key challenges, according to Kamran Habibov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Freight Forwarders Association, who spoke at the Black Sea and Caspian Freight Forum 2026. The focus was on the development of the Middle Corridor and addressing key issues such as increasing the role of freight forwarding companies, ensuring predictability of transit times, and securing cargo for the return journey.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Habibov emphasized that one of the main challenges currently facing the Middle Corridor is ensuring cargo loads in the return direction. He pointed out that two essential requirements in global trade are time and security, highlighting the importance of making transit times more predictable along the corridor.
Habibov noted that despite progress in the Middle Corridor, the shortage of vessels, especially in the Caspian Sea, poses limitations. He suggested that a significant expansion of the fleet by 2030 could address this issue. As cargo volumes increase, the pressure on infrastructure also rises, necessitating strengthened coordination between infrastructure owners and freight forwarding companies, advance preparation of forecasts, and increased capacity at all points.
He further stressed the need for a unified digital platform to track and forecast cargo movement. Such a platform could help in predicting the potential impact of weather conditions in the Caspian Sea on transportation and possible delays, allowing customers to plan shipments more efficiently and enhancing confidence in the Middle Corridor.