Kazakhstan to build new railway and border crossing to Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan is building a new railway towards Uzbekistan, which will lead to a third rail crossing between the two countries. The infrastructure will stretch for about 152 kilometres in southern Kazakhstan, between Darbaza and the...Read more
Six EU countries want to join the Middle Corridor in view of major energy project
The Kazakh Transport Minister, Marat Karabayev, disclosed that six EU countries, including Austria, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Hungary, have recently expressed interest in becoming official members of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) association....Read more
The first Middle Corridor joint venture has just been established
What has been in the pipeline since early 2022 is now a reality. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgian railways just sealed a deal to establish a joint venture on a parity basis. The new company will...Read more
China’s BRI plans signal a renewed opportunity for the Silk Road
ANALYSISThe Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, held last week in Beijing, functioned as a platform for China to communicate its BRI and Silk Road aspirations. Multiple mentions of railway development and the...Read more
China turns to the Middle Corridor and prepares for investments
It has been almost two years since the Middle Corridor came under the spotlight after the war in Ukraine began. The corridor was forced to grow fast amid multiple challenges to accommodate parts of rail...Read more
Rhenus Logistics becomes terminal operator in Uzbekistan after new deal
Germany-based Rhenus Logistics and Uzbekistan Railways enter a new era of cooperation. An official agreement between the two parties foresees the establishment of two joint ventures. The joint ventures will operate intermodal terminals in the...Read more
Germany eyes EU financing for more rail with Central Asia
Germany and Central Asian countries are amid attempts to strengthen their trade cooperation and possibly increase rail connections. A few days ago, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with the heads of five Central Asian countries,...Read more
Making sense of the Middle Corridor in a post-war context
For forwarders focusing on containerised cargo volumes, using the Middle Corridor between China and Europe costs more than it brings. The route gained much exposure because of the war in Ukraine as an option to...Read more
Webinar recap: three updates for the Silk Road situation
War in Ukraine has made the transit route via Russia a delicate choice. Legal-wise, most of the products can still be transhipped via rail crossing Russia; in practice, European companies remain critical and hesitant to...Read more
Kazakhstan takes actions to increase Caspian Sea capacity
Two Kazakh ports, Aktau and Kuryk, have become significantly important for intermodal traffic via the Caspian Sea and Kazakhstan’s railway network. However, they still face substantial challenges, namely the port infrastructure and the declining Caspian...Read more
Several Central Asian destinations become part of RCG’s network
ÖBB Rail Cargo Group is expanding its Eurasian network, focusing on Central Asia. The Austria-based company now serves several markets in the region, offering two different connection routes that follow the Middle Corridor.Read more
Are Middle Corridor volumes growing or dropping after all?
Is the Middle Corridor growing? In theory, it looks like so. The port of Poti witnessed an 80 per cent increase in containerised cargo volumes eastbound alone. Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) experienced an 86 per cent...Read more
Maersk puts Central Asian markets in the spotlight with new service
After a long time, Maersk returned to the forefront of Eurasian connections. The global shipping player launched a new intermodal service connecting the port of Poti in Georgia with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan using the Middle...Read more
Free Webinar: It’s time to talk about this year’s Silk Road
This year is certainly not easy for rail freight forwarders focusing on transportation between China and Europe. The northern route crossing Russia becomes even more complicated as the sanctions tighten. Meanwhile, the demand from Europe...Read more
Kazakhstan sees Middle Corridor volumes increase by 86%
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...Read more
Scandinavia is eyeing a faster and more efficient Middle Corridor
The Middle Corridor is gaining popularity in Scandinavian countries as a route connecting the region to Central Asian markets. As sanctions tighten and Scandinavians keep avoiding the Russian route, the alternative corridor is experiencing a...Read more
Middle Corridor grows as Poti witnessed an 80% volume increase
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...Read more
KTZ scores positive volume results amidst wave of new developments
KTZ’s container transportation via its subsidiary KTZ Express has increased by 2,6 times year-on-year for the first half of 2023. The overall transportation amounted to 346.000 TEU. Cargo flows linked to China have contributed much...Read more
What do Middle Corridor port developments bring forward for Europe?
ANALYSISThe ports of Baku and Poti, in Azerbaijan and Georgia, respectively, are on track to increase their significance for cargo flows directed to Europe. Both hubs are currently undergoing transformational processes that could facilitate and...Read more