Uzbekistan has sent its first train to Europe via the Middle Corridor. The train left on 16 December headed for the Bulgarian port of Varna, where it will be transported further onwards to Turkey. The train is loaded with copper destined for Europe.

It is the first time Uzbekistan has organised a train bypassing Russia, which aligns with its western-minded policy. The train will deliver 46 rail cars and 91 units of 20-foot containers of copper concentrate from the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine, Uzbekistan Railways said.

The route

In order to reach Turkey, the train runs through Turkmenistan to arrive at the port of Turkmensbashi. Here, the cargo will be reloaded to vessels crossing the Caspian Sea to the Azerbaijani port of Baku.

The containers will be reloaded to a train carrying the cargo through Azerbaijan and Georgia, to cross one more sea: the Black Sea. After a crossing on vessels to Varna, the cargo will be loaded on the train again to Turkey, from where it will be distributed to Europe.

New focus

The Middle Corridor has received a lot of attention this year as it is considered the main alternative to rail routes through Russia. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said last month it was ready to invest billions of euros in the development of cargo routes between Europe and Asia that bypass Russia.

Uzbekistan in turn has said it wants to invest in trade with Europe, and therefore in trade routes bypassing Russia. Earlier this month, the first freight train from Turkey arrived in Uzbekistan, using the route via Iran and Turkmenistan.