Baku:Cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, has experienced a 30 percent increase in volume during the first nine months of 2026. This significant growth is accompanied by a 64 percent rise in container transportation from China moving westward. In response to the escalating demand, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are actively investing in expanding their merchant fleets and modernizing port infrastructure in the Caspian Sea.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the Romanian publication “Financial Intelligence” has highlighted the Middle Corridor’s growing importance within the international cargo transportation system. This corridor traverses China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye, extending to Europe. The Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan reported that cargo volume along the route has surged from 800,000 tons to 4.5 million tons over the past five years, with 4.1 million tons transported in 2025 alone, indicating a new growth trend in 2026.
The article underscores Azerbaijan’s shipbuilding industry’s pivotal role in the corridor’s development. It also details the operational capabilities of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO), which maintains a merchant fleet of 56 vessels, including various types of tankers, ferries, and cargo vessels. An agreement between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan aims to enhance the Trans-Caspian corridor’s infrastructure, addressing bottlenecks in rail, road, and port transit, and increasing shipping capabilities in the region.
Azerbaijani transport expert Rauf Aghamirzayev has pointed out that developing the Middle Corridor will require not only the acquisition of new vessels but also the upgrading of existing fleets and the modernization of ports. The article concludes by emphasizing that joint investments by Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are crucial in solidifying the Middle Corridor as an alternative trade route between Asia and Europe.