In January-July of 2025, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY) received 225 block trains from China via the Middle Corridor, marking approximately 2-fold increase year-on-year, Report informs, citing ADY.
By the end of the year, more than 400 block trains are expected to be received. "In the 7 months of 2025, a total of 24,000 TEU of cargo was transported by block trains, which is approximately 2 times more than in the same period last year," the ADY said.
It was noted that recently there has been a growth dynamic in cargo transportation between China and Azerbaijan along the Middle Corridor, and 287 block trains have been received from China in 2024.
ADY stated that Baku hosted a trilateral meeting between Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, one of the AZCON Holding companies, Lasha Abashidze, Director General of the Georgian Railways (JSC), and Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of the Board of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC.
The meeting discussed the results of the 7-month activity of the joint venture Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd, created for effective cooperation between the railway organizations of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia on the development of the Middle Corridor.
The parties highlighted the importance of increasing the capabilities of the Middle Corridor, especially expanding the digitalization of services along the corridor.
The meeting exchanged views on the intention of China Railway Container Transport Corp. Ltd. (CRCT) to join the joint venture Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd., and the significance of this step for the development of the Middle Corridor and East-West-East transportation.
In conclusion, the joining of CRCT to the joint venture was unanimously accepted and the relevant protocol was signed.
It was stated that the cooperation of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia within the framework of the joint venture Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd. is aimed at ensuring continuous, reliable and efficient freight transportation operations along the Middle Corridor, and increasing customer convenience through a single window. With the Chinese company joining this enterprise, new opportunities will emerge for organizing container shipments from China to Europe.