Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

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Middle Corridor

Middle Corridor Debate Shifts From Geopolitics to Commercial Viability

For several years, interest in the Middle Corridor has risen sharply amid the war in Ukraine, tensions around Iran, sanctions, instability on maritime routes, and governments’ efforts to diversify supply chains. The route runs through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the South Caucasus. The way the issue is framed is now changing. The debate over whether this route is needed is moving into the background. A more important question is whether the Middle Corridor can develop from a politically attractive alternative into a sustainable transport and economic system that businesses will use not because of geopolitical circumstances, but because it is competitive. In this context, the 7th Caspian Business Forum, held in New York on September 22 and organized by the Caspian Policy Center (CPC), provided a useful snapshot of this shift. Representatives of the United States, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and major businesses took part. The discussions focused on the Middle Corridor, the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), energy, critical minerals, and attracting private capital. Freight volumes on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route rose from 0.8 million tons to 4.5 million tons in the seven years to 2025, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport. The route carried about 77,000 twenty-foot equivalent units of containerized cargo in 2025, and Kazakhstan aims to raise that total to 300,000 by 2029. These volumes are substantial, but they show the limits of the Middle Corridor’s current capacity. It has not yet become a replacement for all traditional overland routes between China and Europe. The World Bank has noted that the Middle Corridor is more than a transit bridge between China and the European Union (EU). Growth in trade among the countries along the route, as well as their trade with Europe, could be equally important. With the necessary investment and organizational reforms, it estimates, trade flows could triple and transport times could roughly halve by 2030. The route passes through several countries, crosses the Caspian Sea, requires transfers between different modes of transport, and depends on coordination among railway operators, ports, customs services, and tariff policies. A study of transport connectivity between Europe and Central Asia by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, at the request of the European Commission, identified 33 priority investment needs in physical infrastructure and seven soft-connectivity measures, ranging from the digitalization of transport documents to the harmonization of tariffs, customs, and border procedures. The CPC forum addressed these issues as well. CPC President Efgan Nifti put it this way: “For the Corridor to reach its full potential, it must increasingly function as one integrated system – with harmonized border procedures, coordinated ports and railways, and digitalized documentation.” Kazakhstan’s position reflects this approach. The country’s presidential representative for negotiations with the United States, Erzhan Kazykhan, called the Middle Corridor a “strategic investment in the future” connecting Kazakhstan with the South Caucasus, Turkey, and Europe. He said Astana views TRIPP as a logical extension of the system that could shorten the route to European markets...

Middle Corridor

Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Boosts Kazakhstan’s Middle Corridor Role

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway entered full-scale operation on June 2, a development expected to increase freight transport along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and support Kazakhstan’s role as a key transit hub between China and Europe. The railway is a joint strategic project of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey and serves as one of the main overland links connecting Central Asia with European markets through the South Caucasus. The 827-kilometer line has been operating at limited capacity since 2017. Full commercial operation became possible following the completion of rehabilitation and construction work on the Marabda-Kartsakhi section in Georgia. According to Georgia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, the project included the construction and modernization of bridges, railway stations, overpasses, traction substations, a cross-border rail tunnel linking Georgia and Turkey, and upgrades to the Akhalkalaki International Railway Station, one of the corridor’s key logistics hubs. The completion of the project is expected to increase the railway’s annual cargo-handling capacity to 5 million metric tons, allowing it to accommodate growing freight volumes moving between Asia and Europe. “The full-scale operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is an important event not only for Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, but for the entire region and Central Asia,” Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili said during the inauguration ceremony. She described the railway as a critical transport link connecting Europe, Central Asia, and China. According to Kvrivishvili, container traffic through Georgia involving China and Kazakhstan increased by 33% in 2025, while the number of containers transported along the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars route was nearly six times higher than in the previous year. Kazakhstan was represented at the ceremony by Deputy Transport Minister Zhanibek Taizhanov, showing the strategic importance Astana places on the corridor. Authorities in Kazakhstan view the full launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway as a significant step in developing the country’s transit potential and improving logistics links between China, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe. The railway forms a key component of the Middle Corridor, which has gained increasing attention in recent years as governments and logistics companies seek alternatives to traditional Eurasian trade routes.

Organization of Turkic States

Turkic States Focus on AI and Trade at Kazakhstan Summit

Leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) are holding an informal summit in the city of Turkistan, focused on artificial intelligence, digitalization, and economic integration, as Central Asia gains importance as an alternative trade corridor between Europe and China. The meeting brings together the leaders of Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, along with representatives of observer states. Discussions are centered on digital platforms, joint AI projects, transport corridors, and industrial cooperation. The summit comes amid rapid growth of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, which links China and Europe through Central Asia and the Caucasus while bypassing Russia. According to analysts in Kazakhstan, cargo volumes along the route reached 3.3 million tons in 2024, almost six times the 2021 level. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Astana on a state visit ahead of the summit and held talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. “Kazakhstan and Turkey are connected by enduring friendship, brotherhood, and eternal partnership,” Tokayev said following the meeting. Erdoğan thanked Kazakhstan for the reception and highlighted the escort provided by Kazakh military fighter jets after his aircraft entered the country’s airspace. According to participants at the OTS business forum, the combined GDP of member states exceeds $2.1 trillion, while their total population stands at 178 million people. Despite increasing political coordination, trade between OTS countries still accounts for only around 7% of their total foreign trade turnover, leaving considerable room for deeper economic integration, analysts say. OTS member states are increasingly seeking to expand cooperation beyond cultural and political ties by focusing on logistics, the digital economy, and joint investment projects. Kazakhstan views the organization as one of the instruments for diversifying its foreign economic relations and expanding its role as a transit hub between Asia and Europe.

Exports

Kazakhstan Aims to Increase Non-Commodity Exports by More Than a Quarter by 2030

Kazakhstan plans to increase non-commodity exports to $52 billion by 2030, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said during a plenary session of the Berne Union, the world’s largest international association of export credit and investment insurers. The forum, held in Central Asia for the first time, brought together representatives of international financial institutions, export credit agencies, and investors. According to Bektenov, the export target is outlined in Kazakhstan’s Trade Policy Concept. By the end of 2025, the country’s non-commodity exports totaled approximately $41 billion. The prime minister said Kazakhstan continues to expand its network of free trade agreements within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). In addition to existing agreements with Vietnam and Serbia, new arrangements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mongolia, and Indonesia have been concluded over the past two years. Authorities are also placing particular emphasis on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which Kazakhstan views as one of the key trade corridors connecting Asia and Europe. “Our head of state consistently places special emphasis on improving the business climate. Today, Kazakhstan, as the largest economy in the Central Asian region, continues the structural transformation of its national economy,” Bektenov said. According to him, foreign direct investment into Kazakhstan increased by 14.4% to reach $20.5 billion, while investment in fixed capital rose by 13% to a record $43.5 billion. Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover reached $144 billion in 2025. “Today, our goods are exported to 127 countries around the world, and the list of active export product categories has approached 4,000 items,” the prime minister said. Bektenov stressed that the development of international trade, transport and logistics infrastructure, and export capacity is directly linked to improving the country’s investment attractiveness. He invited forum participants to expand cooperation with Kazakhstan in trade, investment, and infrastructure projects. Berne Union President Yuichiro Akita said Kazakhstan continues to serve as a key link in global trade routes dating back to the era of the Silk Road. “Today, the global community once again finds itself at a historical crossroads. A fundamentally different architecture of interaction is emerging, where export credit agencies are moving toward a more strategic and selective approach,” Akita said. According to him, discussions in Astana should help develop new mechanisms for international cooperation amid changes in the global economy. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kazakhstan also aims to increase exports of IT services to $5 billion by 2030. The government also plans to produce five or six Earth observation satellites in the coming years, some of which are intended for export.

Flour Exports

Kazakhstan Tests Trans-Caspian Route for Flour Exports to U.S.

Kazakhstan has begun testing a new export route for shipping finished products to the United States via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TMTM), marking a step toward diversifying logistics and expanding the geographic reach of its exports. In early March, KTZ Express JSC organized the multimodal transport of a shipment of Kazakhstani flour along the route. The project is considered a pilot, but its results could help determine the prospects for establishing a sustainable commercial corridor. The shipment consisted of 24 tons of wheat flour. The shipper was SALAMAT Company LLP, one of Kazakhstan’s leading flour producers. Transportation is being carried out in container format using both rail and maritime infrastructure. The route includes: Kostanay to the Port of Aktau by rail Crossing the Caspian Sea to the Port of Alyat (Azerbaijan) Transit through Georgia via the Port of Poti and across the Black Sea Further maritime transport via Istanbul and the Mediterranean Sea Entry into the Atlantic Ocean with final delivery to New York The maritime segment of the route is being carried out in partnership with CMA CGM, one of the world’s largest container shipping companies. The project demonstrates that the TMTM can be used for the delivery of higher value-added products to distant markets, including the U.S. This is not the first shipment of Kazakhstani flour to the U.S. In 2025, the product had already entered the U.S. market, becoming available on platforms such as Amazon and Walmart, as well as being used by a number of bakeries. Currently, there are plans to expand distribution, including entry into the restaurant and coffee shop segments. The Kazakhstani side is also preparing to supply flour to major retail chains such as Costco, Whole Foods Market, and Trader Joe’s. According to project participants, the successful completion of the pilot shipment has confirmed the viability of the logistics model. As part of further development, there are plans to shorten the maritime segment. In particular, the option of shipping cargo directly from Istanbul to New York without additional stops at European ports is being considered, which would reduce delivery times. Officials have not yet confirmed whether the route will be established as a regular commercial channel or remain a pilot project.

TCA Interviews

How the Container Hub in Aktau Is Changing the Game on the Trans-Caspian Route

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is experiencing rapid growth. Against the backdrop of geopolitical shifts and the restructuring of global supply chains, it is increasingly seen as a reliable alternative to traditional maritime routes. The next major step in its development will be the launch in 2026 of Kazakhstan’s first container hub in the port city of Aktau. The project is expected to accelerate cargo handling, create a full container infrastructure, and strengthen the competitiveness of the route as a whole. But will it be enough to elevate the corridor to the level of the world’s key transport routes? The Times of Central Asia sat down to discuss these important regional developments with Damir Kozhakhmetov, CEO of KTZ Express, the transportation and logistics subsidiary of Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ). TCA: The launch of the container hub at the Port of Aktau is scheduled for 2026. What stage is the project currently at? Are there already forecasts for handling volumes? DK: Construction of the container hub is proceeding according to schedule. The first phase of the project has already been completed: on December 25, 2025, the facility entered pilot industrial operation. The design capacity of the first phase is 140,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year. As part of the project, a rail-track complex approximately three kilometers long has been built, a container yard covering 19,300 square meters has been created, and two modern rail-mounted gantry cranes with a lifting capacity of 41 tons each have been installed. The main loading and transport equipment has also been procured and commissioned. At the same time, supporting infrastructure has been developed, including roads, administrative and auxiliary buildings, engineering and utility networks, lighting systems, and perimeter security. Comprehensive testing of the process equipment is currently underway, and the terminal’s digital control systems are being configured. At the same time, the hub’s IT systems are being integrated with the digital infrastructure of the Port of Aktau to ensure operational transparency and reduce container processing times. Staff training and the refinement of production processes are also continuing during the trial-operation phase. Overall, the facility is steadily moving toward commercial operation, with commissioning work scheduled for completion by the end of March 2026. As for throughput, a phased ramp-up to design capacity is expected in 2026, with utilization increasing gradually. TCA: How will the launch of the container hub affect capacity utilization at Aktau itself? DK: We expect a significant synergistic effect. The project is primarily aimed at attracting additional container traffic, particularly within the TITR framework. This will allow for fuller and more efficient use of the port’s infrastructure. It is important to note that the development of port capacity is already aligned with projected cargo growth. Dredging work is underway in the port basin, while additional berths are being reconstructed and developed. Combined with the modernization of transshipment equipment, this creates the infrastructure reserve needed in advance. The container hub will operate in close cooperation with existing terminals, expanding the port’s logistics capabilities. This will...