WNAM MONITORING: In 2024, the volume of cargo transported from China through the Middle Corridor increased more than 25 times compared to 2023, surpassing 27,000 containers.
Azerbaijan’s infrastructure is now capable of accommodating at least 1,000 block trains this year.
Thanks to ADY’s ongoing and proactive negotiations with international partners, the volume and share of container transportation have steadily increased, enhancing the speed and efficiency of transit through the Middle Corridor. The year 2024 has been marked by significant achievements.
The first container block train from Xi’an, China, reached Baku via the Middle Corridor in just 11 days in March 2024, opened a new chapter in Azerbaijan’s transit capabilities. Continuous measures, meetings, and agreements facilitated the dispatch of 358 container block trains from China to Azerbaijan last year, (287 of which have already been received), highlighting the increased cargo volume through the Middle Corridor and Azerbaijan’s growing role in the international transport system.
In 2024, modernization work on the BTK (Baku–Tbilisi–Kars) railway line, a vital part of the Middle Corridor, was completed in Georgia. This upgrade increased the annual cargo capacity from 1 million to 5 million tons, and cargo transportation resumed on May 20, 2024.
A joint venture, BTKI Railways LLC, was formed by ADY and Marabda-Kartsahi Railway LLC subsidiaries. This new enterprise will bolster strategic transport links in the region and enhance the Middle Corridor’s potential.
Additionally, Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd., a company established in partnership with Georgian and Kazakh railways, plays a crucial role in boosting the Middle Corridor’s potential. This joint venture ensures the implementation of a single-window approach, stable tariff policy, and efficient transportation conditions.
The Eurasian Transport Route, considered the southern wing of the Middle Corridor, opens new trade opportunities for Central Asian countries, Afghanistan, and Pakistan by diversifying international routes and attracting additional cargo flows.
