Belgazercom: Middle Corridor quickly becoming vital alternative to traditional trade paths

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) is becoming critically important as a sustainable alternative to traditional shipping routes, Founder and Chairman of the Belgian-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (Belgazercom) Stef Goris said at a business event of the chamber in Brussels, Report informs.

He noted that today, Azerbaijan is the only viable land corridor connecting Europe with Central Asia, China and the Far East.

"In a time of geopolitical uncertainty, disrupted supply chains over sea, and a shift toward regional diversification, this East-West axis offers stability, security, and strategic reach. And at the heart of it lies Azerbaijan. For European businesses - and Belgian ones in particular - this is not only an opportunity. It is an invitation to help shape a new logistics and industrial backbone stretching from Antwerp to Almaty, from Liège to Lianyungang. What struck us all during this visit was the business potential and the clarity of Azerbaijan’s strategic vision. It is a country that knows exactly where it wants to go: to become a regional hub for logistics, energy transition, high-tech manufacturing, and international investment. And it has the geographic leverage to achieve that," he said.

The TITR is an international route running from China via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Georgia to Europe. It is seen as an alternative to traditional transport routes, especially against the backdrop of global geopolitical changes and the reorientation of logistics chains.

In 2024, the volume of cargo transportation along the TITR increased by 62%, reaching 4.5 million tons. In 2025, a further increase to 5.2 million tons is expected, of which 4.2 million tons will pass through the countries participating in the route. Of this volume, 2.5 million tons will be dry cargo (equivalent to 96,000 TEU), and 1.7 million tons will be oil.

The capacity of the route by 2027 may reach 10 million tons per year, which will create a sustainable basis for expanding the transit potential of Azerbaijan and attracting additional investment in infrastructure.