Total freight traffic along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) may reach 32.1 million tons by 2040, representing a 3.6-fold increase from the 8.8 million tons recorded in 2023, Report informs, citing the World Bank update titled "Integration: World-Class Trade Logistics along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor."
According to the findings, the growth rate for non-oil cargo will be even more substantial, with volumes transported across the Caspian Sea expanding 4.5-fold, from 3.5 million to 15.6 million tons. Total cargo flow through the corridor's Eastern Gateway at the junction of Central and East Asia will rise from 28.5 million to 105.7 million tons by 2040, while traffic through the Western Gateway across the South Caucasus and Türkiye is expected to grow from 12.1 million to 35 million tons.
Under an intensive development scenario, container transit times along the China–Europe route - specifically on the Chongqing–Budapest section - are projected to decrease from the current 47–50 days down to 18–19 days by 2040.