Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

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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...

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....

Middle Corridor

How to Harness Momentum Along the Middle Corridor: Interoperability on the New Silk Road

When most people think of the “Silk Road,” they picture a single camel train inching across a tan horizon, blue-white porcelain strapped beside bolts of silk. That fairytale, however romantic, was never true. Medieval Eurasia operated on multiple, overlapping, and improvised routes, often seasonal. And frankly, for a Westerner at the far end, it scarcely mattered how the goods got there, only that they did. Then, oceanic shortcuts and the Americas rewired global trade; two world wars shattered old geographies, and the Iron Curtain sealed Central Asia into a blank space on Western mental maps. Now, the region is reopening on its own terms, and supply chains are being redrawn in real time. Suddenly, the term “Middle Corridor” has become trendy. The Caspian Policy Center held its 3rd Trans-Caspian Connectivity Conference in London in July this year, focusing on the theme “Harnessing the Momentum, Building on the Synergies.” The title itself implies a recognition of some “momentum” and some “synergies.” A couple of months after the London conference, I spoke by phone with David Moran, a former UK ambassador with extensive experience in the region, to ask him about what he thinks of the whole “New Silk Road” idea. His point is refreshingly unsentimental: stop imagining a line and start thinking of it as a web of interconnected channels. In practice, that means folding energy, digital, finance, and steel into a single operating picture so capital shows up on better terms; widening the frame from C5+1 to a Central Asia–South Caucasus–Turkey logic that actually matches how goods and electrons move; and fixing bottlenecks that are more about governance than concrete. We talked about quiet levers: insurance that prices climate risk properly, a digital spine that makes rail and the Caspian behave like one network, and the long-cycle drivers that turn logistics into strategy. Compound those gains, and pretty soon you’ve built something you no longer have to call “alternative.” “Alternative” lets officials kick decisions into next year; “strategy” forces sequencing, standards in definitions, and capital discipline today. It also resets expectations: this is not a clever detour around trouble, it is the backbone of a regional growth story that European lenders might just actually know how to price. Seen that way, the geography snaps into focus. On the Caspian, Aktau and Kuryk on one shore and Baku on the other form the hinge, while the BTK railway and Kazakhstan’s Altynkol–Zhetygen pull weight inland. Atyrau is the western Kazakh air node that connects workers, parts and schedules to the Caucasus, the Gulf, and Europe. Thread through the rest: Black Sea power interconnect ideas, subsea data routes, the hydrocarbon pipes already in place. Put it together and you have a web with redundancy, optionality, and recognisable standards built in. If there’s one real shift, it’s moving from projects to an operating plan. Moran puts it cleanly: “Go for a fully integrated regional connectivity strategy -- energy, digital, finance, infrastructure -- rather than working through sectoral initiatives separately.” Integration isn’t a slogan; it’s how you...

Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

Kazakhstan Launches Construction of Strategic Center-West Highway Corridor

Kazakhstan has officially commenced construction of the long-anticipated Center-West highway corridor, a strategic infrastructure project designed to enhance national connectivity and boost the country’s transit capacity. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in the Kostanay region on June 14, marking a major milestone in the implementation of Kazakhstan’s national transport development strategy. According to the Ministry of Transport, the new highway will stretch 865 kilometers along the route Astana-Zhanteke-Egindikol-Arkalyk-Torgai-Irgiz. Once completed, the corridor will directly link the central and western regions of Kazakhstan and integrate into the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), a critical freight corridor connecting China and Europe via Kazakh territory. One of the most significant logistical benefits of the project is a 573-kilometer reduction in travel distance between Astana and Irgiz, which is expected to substantially cut transit times and enhance freight movement efficiency. Construction began simultaneously in two directions: one from the town of Arkalyk toward Astana, and the other from the village of Torgai toward Irgiz. This dual-front approach is intended to accelerate the project timeline and streamline construction efforts across Kazakhstan’s expansive steppe terrain. Speaking at the launch event, Deputy Minister of Transport Satzhan Ablaliyev emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative. He noted that the corridor would not only improve national transport infrastructure and transit capabilities but also enhance regional interconnectivity and accessibility. Beyond its national scope, the project is expected to deliver substantial local benefits by boosting economic activity in adjacent areas. Increased mobility, expanded trade routes, and job creation, both during construction and in the long term, are among the anticipated outcomes. The Center-West highway corridor forms a key component of Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to modernize its transport network and solidify its role as a pivotal transit hub between East and West.

Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

Bulgarian Ports Eye Middle Corridor Expansion

Kazakhstan and Bulgaria are exploring the integration of Bulgaria's Black Sea ports of Burgas and Varna into the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (TITC), a move that could significantly expand the reach of this crucial East-West trade route. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the "Middle Corridor," has been operational since 2017, connecting China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and ultimately, European countries. This multimodal corridor facilitates containerized cargo transport by rail and sea, primarily utilizing the Caspian Sea for maritime crossings. Spanning 11,000 kilometers, the route saw a substantial increase in cargo volume last year, reaching 4.5 million tons compared to 2.76 million tons the previous year. Astana anticipates further growth, projecting an annual freight traffic volume of 10 million tons on the TITR by 2028. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to broaden the Middle Corridor's geographical scope. The potential inclusion of Bulgarian ports was a key topic during Bulgarian President Rumen Radev's official visit to Kazakhstan. "Today, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has become one of the main international highways. We have agreed to consider the inclusion of the Bulgarian ports of Burgas and Varna in this corridor," stated Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, following talks with Radev. The discussions culminated in a ceremony where heads of state exchanged signed bilateral documents, including a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Bulgaria, focusing on the development of the TITR. Radev expressed optimism about the deepened cooperation. "I am confident that the talks will give new impetus to our cooperation. The signed memorandum on the further development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor is a reflection of our aspirations. It is necessary to make the most of the strategic geographical position of Kazakhstan and Bulgaria on this route, which connects Asia with Europe," he said. Later, at the Kazakhstan-Bulgaria Business Forum, Tokayev reiterated the target of 10 million tons per year for the TITR's capacity, aiming for this to be achieved by 2028. Previously The Times of Central Asia reported how, during the Astana International Forum, Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov highlighted Kazakhstan's perception of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route as a cornerstone of sustainable logistics across Eurasia.