Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

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Development of a Maritime Fleet in a Landlocked Country

It may come as a surprise to some, but despite being a landlocked country far from any ocean, Kazakhstan is actively developing its maritime fleet. The country recognizes that to play a significant role in maritime transport across the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan must enhance the competitiveness of its commercial fleet, alongside improving coastal infrastructure and services. This initiative not only generates revenue for Kazakh transport companies and contributes to the national budget but also safeguards the country's foreign trade. Kazakhstan has set an ambitious goal to establish a regional transit hub based on its Caspian Sea ports, Aktau and Kuryk. It is attracting major international players to develop its logistics services and integrate Kazakhstan into the global trade and transport network. However, the development of the national commercial fleet is lagging. The shortage of a strong fleet means Kazakhstan struggles to compete with the maritime industries of other Caspian nations. It is no secret that most maritime transport between the ports of Aktau/Kuryk and Baku is currently handled by the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company, one of the largest maritime transport operators in the region. The company owns more than 50 transport vessels and over 110 specialized ships and plans to implement a large-scale investment program to modernize its fleet by 2029. Meanwhile, according to Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics, 263 maritime vessels are registered in the country. However, more than 70% of these vessels are over 25 years old. The aging fleet and weak presence in the maritime transport market prevent Kazakhstan from increasing its share in global supply chains, meaning most of the profits from freight transport go to foreign carriers. The longstanding principle discussed in Kazakhstan’s transport sector — “Our Cargo – Our Port – Our Fleet”— could enable domestic transport companies to earn up to 30% more through logistics-related revenue. According to World Bank estimates, by 2030, cargo transportation via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is expected to reach 11 million tons. The Concept for the Development of Kazakhstan’s Transport and Logistics Potential until 2030 forecasts that the volume of containerized transit cargo along this corridor from China will grow by at least 40,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) in the next five years. Over the past decade, Kazakhstan’s domestic tanker fleet has significantly reduced its oil transport operations, as most of the country's crude oil is now transported via pipelines. However, a recent drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's (CPC) largest oil pumping station and a subsequent statement from “Transneft” warning that this could lead to a 30% reduction in Kazakhstan’s oil exports highlight the urgent need for an alternative maritime route for oil transport. This would help maintain stable oil production in the country’s fields. Accelerating the modernization and expansion of Kazakhstan’s national fleet will integrate the country into the regional transport and logistics system, reduce dependency on foreign vessels, and protect foreign trade from volatile freight market conditions — especially given ongoing geopolitical uncertainties in the region. A key initiative expected to strengthen Kazakhstan’s...

Multimodal Transport Corrdior Trans-Caspian International Transport Route International transport Caspian Sea Transport and Logistics Infrastructure Development

Prospects for the Development of Kazakhstan’s Maritime Trade Gateways

A container hub will be built in the Aktau seaport. The maritime harbor is expected to become a center for cargo consolidation and distribution, facilitating Kazakhstan’s deeper integration into the global trade and transport system. How will this impact port operations, regional development, and the global supply chain through the Caspian Sea? The project in Aktau will primarily allow for the formation of a container park on its territory, serving Kazakhstan, Caspian region countries, and Central Asia. It will provide a full range of services, including container transshipment and warehousing. The hub’s construction marks a new phase in the port’s development, establishing it as a major logistical center. The hub can become not only a component of Kazakhstan’s transportation system, but a key link in the regional and global transport chain. For this project, investment has been secured from Lianyungang Port Group Co. Ltd., which operates one of China’s largest ports, with a corresponding agreement having been signed with the company. Growth Projections and Capacity Expansion According to many industry experts, Kazakhstan needs to actively develop container cargo transport. Currently, the country’s containerization level is quite low, standing at only about 7%. As Abay Turikpenbayev, Chairman of the Board of the Aktau International Sea Commercial Port public company, explained to TCA, oil and containers are ideal cargo for the harbor due to their swift transport, quick unloading, and rapid railcar turnaround. “It’s a different matter when bulk cargo arrives at the port. Bulk materials take longer to unload and congest the port infrastructure, preventing the acceptance and accumulation of a large number of railcars. The use of containers allows for an increased cargo flow,” Turikpenbayev stated. According to Turikpenbayev, unloading bulk cargo takes 2-3 days, and an additional 2-3 days is required for loading. In contrast, container unloading and processing take less than 24 hours. According to World Bank estimates, by 2030, cargo volumes transported via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route through the Caspian Sea will reach 11 million tons. The new container hub is expected to help handle these volumes and attract additional cargo flows, increasing the port’s container transshipment capacity to 140,000 TEUs per year. Addressing the Caspian Sea Water Level Decline A critical issue that deserves attention is the declining water levels in the Caspian Sea. According to the Caspian Sea Hydrometeorological Research Department of RSE Kazhydromet, since 2006, the level of the Caspian Sea has dropped by approximately two meters. This decline has significantly affected navigation in the region. To address this, dredging work is planned in the Aktau port this year. Turikpenbayev stated that around 1.6 million cubic meters of heavy sediment will be removed from the harbor’s waters. “The dredged material will be used to create new territories and extend the port area southward. This will allow the port’s land area to expand from 60 to 100 hectares in the future,” Turikpenbayev explained. In addition to the construction of the container hub, further port expansion plans include building an additional berth for bulk cargo,...

multimodal transportation Multimodal Transport Corrdior Trans-Caspian International Transport Route TITR Middle Corridor China

300th Container Train Departs Along Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway company of Kazakhstan, announced on December 2 the departure of the 300th container train of the year from the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Xi’an, China, along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). This milestone highlights the growing strategic importance of the TITR, also known as the Middle Corridor, as a vital transport artery for fast and efficient cargo transportation between China and Europe. Expansion of the Middle Corridor The Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Xi’an, launched on February 28, 2024, has become a key logistics hub for the region, consolidating cargo from across China and streamlining logistics operations. This development has provided a significant boost to the TITR, which saw only 11 container trains traverse the route in 2023. The 300th train, bound for Azerbaijan, was organized by KTZ in collaboration with ADY Express (Azerbaijan) and Xi’an Free Trade Port (China). This partnership underscores the cooperative efforts between countries along the route to enhance connectivity and efficiency. Strengthening Regional Cooperation On November 12, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and China signed an agreement to establish an inter-modal cargo terminal in the Port of Alat in Baku, Azerbaijan. This new facility aims to further facilitate the smooth flow of goods and boost trade along the TITR. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has outlined ambitious goals for the corridor, aiming to increase cargo traffic to 600 container trains per year in both 2025 and 2026. The target rises to 1,000 trains in 2027 and 2,000 by 2029, reflecting the corridor’s growing role in global trade logistics.

Energy Green Energy Middle Corridor Nuclear Energy TITR Trans-Caspian International Transport Route COP29

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan Stand Out at COP29

The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), held in Baku from November 11–22, 2024, has underscored the critical role of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in advancing Caspian Sea regional energy transitions. Both countries leveraged their positions along the Middle Corridor to present ambitious renewable and nuclear energy strategies. Azerbaijan: Renewables and the Middle Corridor Azerbaijan, the host and chair of COP29, has positioned itself as a renewable energy connector between Central Asia and Europe. Its energy strategy reflects a pragmatic approach to transitioning from hydrocarbons, which accounted for 88% of government revenues in 2023, to a diversified portfolio incorporating solar, wind, and hydropower. Azerbaijan has prioritized key renewable energy projects to align with its goal of achieving a 30% renewable share in its electricity mix by 2030. Among these is the operational Garadagh Solar Power Plant, a 230-megawatt (MW) facility developed by the UAE's Masdar, which generates 500 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually. Complementing this is the planned Alat Solar Project, a 400-MW solar installation expected to be operational by 2027. These projects aim to bolster domestic electricity supply and expand Azerbaijan’s capacity to export renewable energy. The Caspian Offshore Wind Initiative, backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), seeks to harness the Caspian Sea’s favorable wind conditions. A 1-gigawatt (GW) wind farm is under preliminary study, with construction anticipated to begin by 2026. This project could transform Azerbaijan into a renewable energy hub for the Middle Corridor, particularly as Europe reduces its dependency on Russian energy. Kazakhstan: Nuclear Ambitions and Renewable Diversification Kazakhstan’s energy strategy focuses on nuclear power and renewables, driven by the need to reduce coal dependency, which still accounts for two thirds of its electricity generation. The government’s approval of its first nuclear power plant, following a nationwide referendum in October 2024, is central to this strategy. The planned nuclear reactor, located near Lake Balkhash, will generate 1.2-GW of electricity, replacing approximately 20% of coal-fired generation. This initiative complements Kazakhstan’s status as the world’s largest uranium producer, supplying over 40% of global demand and generating $3.6 billion in export revenues in 2023. Potential consortium members for the project include South Korea’s KEPCO, France’s Orano and EDF, China’s CNNC, and Russia's Rosatom, although economic-sanctions issues complicate Russia’s involvement in the nuclear sector. Kazakhstan is simultaneously scaling up renewable energy projects, with several key initiatives underway. The Zhanatas Wind Farm, operational since 2022, produces 100-MW of power, and the Shelek Solar Park, a 200-MW solar facility near Almaty, is expected to come online in late 2025. Together, these projects aim to increase renewables to 15% of Kazakhstan’s electricity mix by 2030, quintupling the level from 2023. The Trans-Caspian Electricity Cable Project At the COP29 conference, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, along with Uzbekistan, announced an ambitious trans-Caspian electricity cable project through an underwater transmission system. This infrastructure initiative, estimated to cost $2.5 billion, seeks to establish an electricity corridor linking Central Asia with European markets, representing a significant step in regional energy integration. The project...

Middle Corridor TITR multimodal transportation railroads Trans-Caspian International Transport Route Multimodal Transport Corrdior International transport Trans-Caspian Corridor

Dredging Project in Kazakhstan’s Kuryk Port Completed

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the country’s national railway company, has announced the early completion of dredging works at the Caspian Sea port of Kuryk. The project was completed by its general contractor, Jan De Nul Kazakhstan LLP, in just four months. The dredging operation involved removing over 990,000 cubic meters of soil from the port’s seabed using the Vesalius, the most powerful dredger in the Caspian Sea. As a result, the water depth in the port’s operational area and approach channel has been increased to 7–8 meters. This enhancement allows for an increased draft of vessels entering the port, enabling them to achieve full loading capacity. The project significantly boosts the port's terminal capacity, further strengthening its role as a vital transit hub on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. This strategic route connects China and Europe via Central Asia and the Caucasus. The Kuryk port currently handles up to 6 million tons of cargo annually, including 4.1 million tons through its railway terminal and 1.9 million tons via its automobile terminal.

Caspian Sea Infrastructure Development TITR International transport multimodal transportation Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea Ports Increase Cargo Transportation

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has announced that from January to October 2024, the country’s Caspian Sea ports transported 6.2 million tons of cargo, reflecting a 3% increase compared to the same period last year. Transit cargo shipments saw even stronger growth, rising by 18%. Truck transshipment via the Kuryk port’s ferry complex increased by 22%, while container transportation through the Aktau port surged by 84%, with approximately 27,000 containers moved along the East-West transit route. During the same period, the Sarzha terminal at Kuryk port handled 55,000 tons of cargo, including non-ferrous metals, fertilizers, and barley, destined for Turkey and Iran. In October, a new grain terminal with an annual capacity of 1 million tons was inaugurated at the Kuryk port. Efforts to enhance the port’s capacity continue. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has undertaken dredging operations at the Kuryk port to ensure sufficient depth for ship access, bolstering the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). The dredging project will support further expansion of Kuryk’s terminal capacity, currently set at 6 million tons annually—4 million tons through its railway terminal and 2 million tons via its automobile terminal.