Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian): What Changed in 2026?
Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian): What Changed in 2026?
What Is the Middle Corridor?
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) — an alternative Silk Road from China to Europe. The route:
China → Kazakhstan → Caspian Sea → Azerbaijan → Georgia → Turkey → Europe
This route differs sharply from the Northern Corridor (through Russia): no geopolitical risk, no sanctions issues.
What Changed Since 2022?
From February 2022, companies using the Northern Corridor (through Russia) began seeking alternatives on the Middle Corridor.
Result:
- Volume grew 4× between 2022–2026
- Baku BSTP port expanded in 2024
- Georgia's Poti port opened a new container terminal
- Kazakhstan railways invested $2 billion in upgrades
Full Route Map
| Segment | Transport | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| China (Shanghai/Chengdu) → Almaty | Rail | 3,800 km | 4–5 days |
| Almaty → Aktau/Kuryk | Rail | 2,100 km | 2–3 days |
| Aktau → Baku | Ro-Ro vessel | 450 km | 12–18 hours |
| Baku → Tbilisi | Rail | 520 km | 1 day |
| Tbilisi → Istanbul | Rail/road | 1,100 km | 2–3 days |
| Istanbul → Hamburg | Rail/sea | 2,500 km | 4–6 days |
| **Total** | **Multimodal** | **~10,500 km** | **18–22 days** |
Azerbaijan's Role
Azerbaijan is the central hub of this route:
Baku International Sea Trade Port (BSTP)
- Annual capacity: 25 million tons
- Container capacity: 150,000 TEU/year
- Ro-Ro ferry: 300 vehicles/voyage
- Rail connection: BTK line
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) Railway
- Direct connection from Baku to Europe
- Opened 2017, modernized 2024
Rates (2026)
| Route segment | 20ft container |
|---|---|
| China → Aktau (rail) | $1,800–2,500 |
| Aktau → Baku (ferry) | $400–600 |
| Baku → Europe (rail) | $1,200–2,000 |
| **Total China → Europe** | **$3,400–5,100** |
Suitable Cargo
- ✓Electronics and tech equipment
- ✓Textiles and ready-to-wear
- ✓Machine parts and equipment
- ✓Medical devices
- ✓FMCG products
- ✓Refrigerated goods (with reefer containers)
Trazeroad and the Middle Corridor
We are a logistics company specialized in the Middle Corridor since 2019. We manage the Azerbaijan segment — from the Caspian crossing through customs in Baku to Georgia — end to end.
Weekly regular service: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu → Baku → Europe.