Middle Corridor faces three main challenges today, Alliance Multimodal CEO says

Today, the Middle Corridor faces three main challenges, General Director of Alliance Multimodal Natig Jafarov said during the fifth Black and Caspian Freight Forum 2026 in Baku, Report informs.

"The key challenges of the corridor come down to the following: the carrying capacity of Caspian ferries and Ro-Ro vessels still remains limited, customs and border procedures still require further digitalization and unification, and under normal market conditions, the cost of transportation can exceed maritime transport rates. At the same time, there are also prospects," Jafarov emphasized.

According to him, new vessels are entering the Caspian Sea - six new vessels are currently being delivered, and four more Ro-Ro ships are on the way.

"New ports and terminals are being developed. Among them are the Zira terminals and the Hovsan port, while the expansion of the Baku International Sea Trade Port is underway in parallel (it is planned to increase capacity to 260,000 TEUs next year - ed.), and the ports of Poti and Anaklia are also being developed. Digitalization processes are improving, and the governments of the countries are demonstrating increasingly coordinated work.

Provided there is stable investment and more effective coordination, the Middle Corridor is capable of strengthening every year," the Alliance Multimodal CEO said.