Trans-Caspian Corridor - The Times Of Central Asia

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Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

Amid Global Unrest, the Trans-Caspian Corridor Faces a Crucial Test

The COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and the ongoing shipping crisis in the Red Sea caused by Houthi attacks have severely disrupted global trade and logistics. These events have exposed the vulnerabilities of traditional supply chains and underscored the urgent need for diversification. For countries along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), this presents a unique opportunity to solidify the corridor’s position as a key global logistics artery. But are they prepared to capitalize on this moment, and can the existing infrastructure sustain the rising flow of cargo? Integration and Infrastructure in Focus For landlocked nations, the value of an efficient overland route cannot be overstated. The development of the Trans-Caspian route depends on synchronized multimodal logistics, the elimination of infrastructure bottlenecks, the implementation of digital solutions, expedited customs procedures, and a transparent tariff policy. Experts note that the TITR has evolved from a transport project into a strategic initiative. Its future growth hinges on the quality of intergovernmental coordination. In the past five years, transit volumes along the route have increased sixfold. The upward trend continues in 2025, with 2.6 million tons transported by rail in the first ten months alone. More than 400 types of goods now move along the corridor, including high-value items such as vehicles, electronics, clothing, and textiles. These products, which require timely delivery, signal the route’s growing integration into global supply chains. Demand from Chinese shippers is also rising, with shipments expanding beyond China’s interior to include Southeast Asian countries. At the VII International Transport and Logistics Business Forum “New Silk Way,” Wang Lixin, Deputy Director General of China Railway, announced a new route under development: Southeast Asia-China-Central Asia-Europe. Bottlenecks That Threaten Growth A comprehensive audit conducted in mid-2025 revealed key barriers to expansion. In Kazakhstan, the primary constraint is railway capacity, currently limited to 12 container trains per day. National rail operator KTZ plans to raise this to 20 by 2027 through upgrades and new construction. The maritime segment, particularly the Caspian Sea, remains a persistent risk. Aktau port can currently handle five trains, but the completion of the second phase of its container hub is expected to raise this to eight. The first phase alone will boost capacity by 140,000 TEU this year, bringing the port’s total capacity to 240,000 TEU. However, falling water levels in the Caspian pose a serious challenge. In September 2025, Kazhydromet reported a drop to -29.31 meters off Kazakhstan’s coast, limiting shiploads and raising the threat of “shallow water restrictions.” In response, Kazakhstan has expedited dredging to restore design depths by the end of Q1 2026. Fleet shortages compound the issue. Kazmortransflot operates just three 350 TEU container ships and two dry cargo vessels. In January 2025, the company signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports Group to build shallow-draft container ships with over 500 TEU capacity and larger ferries. KTZ also plans to acquire six vessels (up to 9,000 tons deadweight) by 2027. Challenges in Azerbaijan and Georgia The western segment of the route faces similar constraints....

Tashkent Summit

Azerbaijan Joins Central Asia to Build a C6 Corridor Core

Central Asian leaders met in Tashkent on November 15–16 for the seventh Consultative Meeting of Heads of State. Azerbaijan attended as a guest with full rights, as it had done at the meetings last year and the year before. This time, the leaders agreed that Azerbaijan would sit as a full participant in future meetings, transforming the C5 into the C6. In his opening remarks, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed turning the loose consultative mechanism into a formal regional body under the working title, the “Community of Central Asia.” Mirziyoyev went further and suggested extending the mandate from economic integration to include security and environmental cooperation for the region as a whole. The Uzbek President called the decision to admit Azerbaijan “historic,” as the leaders framed the welcoming of Azerbaijan not as a courtesy to a neighbor but as part of a wider integration project that already runs across the Caspian and that is now seeking to bring a South Caucasus transit and energy hub directly into the frame. The consultative format is thus being asked to carry a heavier load than when it was created in 2018 as a careful space for political dialogue and security confidence-building. For governments and external partners, the practical question is whether this emerging “Central Asia plus Azerbaijan” geometry can evolve into a corridor community with its own regional rules, or whether it will remain largely declaratory while decisions continue to track external finance and great-power projects. Azerbaijan and Central Asia Begin to Co-Author the Agenda From the start, the consultative meetings of the Central Asian heads of state were conceived as a modest, leader-level forum to ease regional tensions and reopen direct dialogue after a decade of drift. The first gathering in Astana in March 2018 focused on borders, water management, and security issues that had festered since the 1990s, and that format’s agenda had mainly remained focused on political reconciliation and crisis management. The seventh meeting in Tashkent was different in kind. By bringing Azerbaijan formally into the room on a continuing rather than one-off basis, and by placing corridor and digital questions at the center of proceedings rather than on the margins, it reframed the forum from an inward-looking confidence-building device into a platform that aspires to shape external connectivity. Azerbaijan’s presence at earlier summits in 2023 and 2024 created a transitional phase in which Baku could test how far its own transit and energy agenda resonated with Central Asian priorities. In Tashkent, that ambiguity effectively ended. President Ilham Aliyev’s speech, delivered after the leaders had agreed that Azerbaijan would participate in future meetings as a full member, described Central Asia and Azerbaijan as forming “a single geopolitical and geo-economic region whose importance in the world is steadily growing.” He tied that claim to concrete developments along the Middle Corridor segment through Azerbaijan, the Alat port complex, upgraded customs procedures, and cross-Caspian energy and data links. For Kazakhstan, the Tashkent meeting offered a complementary opportunity. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev used his speech...

Digital Silk Road

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan Push Ahead with Digital Corridor Across Caspian

Marine research is underway to determine the optimal route for the Trans-Caspian fiber-optic cable, a vital component of the ambitious “Digital Silk Way” initiative aimed at building a high-capacity digital corridor connecting Europe and Asia, Media.az reported. The ongoing survey, which includes shoreline assessments and detailed seabed analysis, will define the shortest, safest, and most environmentally sustainable path for the cable. Research began simultaneously from the Azerbaijani and Kazakhstani coasts and is expected to take up to four weeks. Emil Masimov, Chairman of AzerTelecom’s Board, visited the Turkan research vessel, where the survey is being conducted. During his visit, he reviewed the ship’s technical capabilities and met with the crew and engineering teams. “The Trans-Caspian cable project is progressing rapidly. With the launch of this marine survey, we are entering a crucial phase of construction,” Masimov said. “This step will boost regional digital connectivity and position the Caspian Sea as a key link in global digital infrastructure. Both Azerbaijani and Kazakh teams are using cutting-edge technology and professional expertise, and I am confident the work will be completed on schedule.” The 380-kilometer underwater cable will run from Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, to Aktau, Kazakhstan, and is expected to offer a transmission capacity of up to 400 terabits per second. Once operational, the line will significantly strengthen intercontinental data flows. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026. Kazakhtelecom is leading the project on the Kazakh side, while U.S.-based Pioneer Consulting is providing technical oversight and consultancy services. The Trans-Caspian cable is a central element of the broader “Digital Silk Way” initiative, which envisions a modern telecommunications corridor passing through Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. The project aims to deliver high-speed, low-latency data routes that promote regional cooperation, digital integration, and sustainable economic development.

Trans-Caspian Corridor

Kazakhstan and China Boost Rail Trade via Middle Corridor Agreement

Kazakhstan and China have signed a renewed strategic agreement to strengthen rail connectivity and increase freight volumes along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. At a ceremony in Beijing, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) and China State Railway Group concluded a new Agreement on Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation, replacing the framework established in 2014. The updated agreement reflects evolving priorities in railway transport and logistics between the two countries. According to KTZ, the agreement aims to reinforce Kazakhstan’s role as a key logistics hub between East and West and expand the Middle Corridor’s capacity as an alternative trade route linking China and Europe. Surging Freight Volumes and Strategic Exports Rail freight between China and Kazakhstan continues to grow rapidly. From January to May 2025, cargo volumes reached 14.2 million tons, an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Grain exports, in particular, surged by 46% to 1.6 million tons, underscoring Kazakhstan’s expanding role not only as a transit state but also as a supplier of strategic commodities such as agricultural products and raw materials. This growth aligns with Kazakhstan’s broader economic goals of trade diversification and regional integration. Zhetysu Terminal: A Key Infrastructure Milestone A critical component of the strengthened transport network is the Zhetysu container terminal in Almaty, inaugurated on June 10. Jointly developed by Kazakhstan and China, the terminal is expected to serve as a central logistics hub for the consolidation and distribution of Chinese cargo transported via rail and road. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the terminal is positioned to become a key platform for transshipment along the TITR, further enhancing its competitiveness as a vital link in East-West trade flows. Strategic Implications for the Region As Kazakhstan accelerates transport infrastructure modernization and strengthens rail cooperation with China, the newly signed agreement is anticipated to deliver long-term benefits for regional connectivity, supply chain resilience, and Eurasian trade corridors. The enhanced focus on the Middle Corridor comes amid global efforts to diversify trade routes and reduce dependence on traditional corridors through Russia, reinforcing the geopolitical and economic significance of Kazakhstan’s transport strategy.

Trans-Caspian Corridor

Kazakhstan Launches Dredging Project to Expand Aktau Port on Key Trans-Caspian Corridor

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has initiated dredging works at the Caspian Sea port of Aktau, aiming to enhance the capacity and navigational safety of a critical hub on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. The Aktau port, located in the Mangistau region, is being deepened by 1.5 to 2 meters using specialized dredging equipment supplied by European contractor Jan De Nul. Mobilization of the equipment is set to be completed in May, with full dredging operations scheduled for completion by the fourth quarter of 2025. The project is expected to significantly increase the port's terminal capacity. Currently, Aktau handles approximately 15 million tons of cargo annually, including up to 140,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This infrastructure enhancement forms part of Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to develop the TITR, a key transit corridor linking China to Europe through Central Asia and the Caucasus. According to the Ministry of Transport, container traffic via the TITR through Kazakhstan surged by 3.5 times in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 25,000 TEUs, up from 7,200 TEUs during the same period in 2024. In a related development, Kazakhstan completed dredging works at another major Caspian port, Kuryk, in November 2024. That project, also executed by Jan De Nul Kazakhstan LLP, was finished in just four months. The water depth at Kuryk was increased to 7-8 meters, substantially enhancing its handling capacity and reinforcing its strategic importance on the Trans-Caspian route.

EU-Central Asia Relations

EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting Highlights Enhanced Cooperation and Strategic Priorities

The 20th EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting took place on March 27 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, reaffirming the parties’ strong political will to deepen engagement and strengthen cooperation in strategically significant areas. The meeting brought together the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, along with the foreign ministers of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and the deputy foreign ministers of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. A key item on the agenda was preparation for the inaugural EU-Central Asia Summit, scheduled for April 4, 2025, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Advancing Strategic Cooperation Kallas and Central Asian ministers discussed a broad spectrum of mutual priorities under the EU’s Global Gateway Flagship Initiatives, including trade, transport, energy, water resource management, climate change, digitalization, and critical raw materials. Both sides also highlighted advancing cooperation in education, vocational training, research, and skills development to foster deeper people-to-people ties. In a joint communiqué adopted at the meeting, the EU and Central Asian states reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening their comprehensive partnership, grounded in mutual interests and values. The discussions were guided by the “Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia,” previously adopted in Luxembourg in October 2023. Focus on Connectivity and the Trans-Caspian Corridor Connectivity emerged as a central theme, with the participants stressing the need to expand sustainable connections between Central Asia and Europe. The EU’s Global Gateway Strategy was highlighted as a key vehicle for supporting regional infrastructure in trade, transport, water, and energy. The participants recalled the success of the Global Gateway Investors Forum on EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity, held in Brussels in January 2024. They welcomed commitments by European and international financial institutions to invest €10 billion in the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC), aimed at significantly enhancing East-West transport links. Critical Raw Materials and Local Value Chains Another focal point was the growing strategic importance of critical raw materials (CRMs). Ministers reviewed progress following the signing of a Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the CRM sector. The meeting acknowledged EU support for strengthening local value chains in Central Asia. Discussions stressed alignment with international labor and environmental standards and the development of sustainable investment projects across the region. Sanctions Compliance The EU also briefed participants on its restrictive measures in the current geopolitical environment, underlining the need to prevent sanctions circumvention. Central Asian countries expressed readiness to continue cooperating with the EU to prevent re-exports of sensitive items, particularly those classified as “high priority.” Strategic Outlook The meeting reaffirmed the EU’s 2019 Strategy on Central Asia, which recognizes the region’s increasing strategic relevance to Europe. The Ashgabat gathering further solidified this recognition, highlighting Central Asia’s growing role in regional connectivity, resource security, and global diplomacy.