Transcaspian route expands reach with new departure points in China

The working group on the development of the Transcaspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, convened in Shymkent Kazakhstan, on May 30-31, to discuss the route's performance and growth strategies.

According to the International Transcaspian Transport Consortium (ITTC), the meetings focused on analyzing cargo transportation volumes along the TITR over the first four months of 2024. It was noted that since the introduction of the Kazakhstani terminal in the Chinese city of Xi'an, container traffic has surged by an impressive 70%, with a nine-fold increase in the number of container trains traveling from China towards Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Europe.

The consortium reported that the number of container trains passing through the corridor in May alone is expected to exceed 30.

Thanks to the well-coordinated efforts of TITR and ITTC members, the geography of container transportation has expanded, with new cargo departure points emerging in China, including Chongqing, Yiwu, Sanping, Nanjing, and Jinhe, the consortium stated.

In addition to Absheron, the final delivery points now include Tbilisi, the ports of Batumi and Poti, Istanbul, and Constanta, it noted.

The working group also highlighted the establishment of stable delivery times along the route. The journey from Altynkol station to Apsheron (Baku) now takes 9 days, while the route from Altynkol to Poti or Batumi takes 12 days. The extended route from Altynkol through Poti or Batumi to Constanta has a transit time of 20-22 days.

The Transcaspian International Transport Route is a vital international transport corridor that spans across China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and onward to Türkiye and European countries.