Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) has seen Middle Corridor volumes grow by 86 per cent for the first seven months of this year compared to 2022. The total volume amounted to 1.6 million tons, with the export volume contributing to most of the growth.

According to KTZ,  over all the recorded volume, 1.2 million tons of cargo were exported. This is 2.5 times higher compared to the same period last year. The growth is also apparent in Caspian Sea ports. The Port of Aktau, for example, experienced a 24 per cent increase in bulk cargo volumes for the first seven months of this year.

Poti also grows

The Poti Sea Port in Georgia has experienced an eastbound volume increase of 80 per cent this year compared to 2022. The westbound growth is less significant, signalling a nine per cent increase compared to last year. The growing volume of the Middle Corridor has posed a considerable challenge to the capacity of the ports.

Zeyba Agalarova, Business Development Manager for Nurminen Logistics, told RailFreight.com in a previous interview that the ports of Poti and Aktau are currently experiencing a lack-of-platform issue, which results in long waiting times for containers to be reloaded. “The congestion could last for weeks,” Agalarova explained.

Also read:

• What do Middle Corridor port developments bring forward for Europe?
• EBRD: ‘investments in Kazakhstan key for Middle Corridor expansion’
• A Middle Corridor joint venture might be closer than expected