Trans-Caspian Corridor freight volumes surge by 60% in seven months

MINSK, October 2. /TASS/. The growth in sea freight along the Trans-Caspian Corridor has been impressive, with volumes exceeding 4.5 mln metric tons in the first seven months of this year, 60% more than in all of last year, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Bakytzhan Sagintayev told reporters following a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

According to him, the heads of government discussed the development of transport infrastructure along the east-west and north-south routes, including in conjunction with China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Sagintayev noted that a common transport space is being actively developed within the EAEU, with the development of Eurasian transport corridors, including rail, road, and port infrastructure, among the key areas of this work. The EEC Board chairman noted that these corridors account for around 70% of transit freight traffic, making it crucial to synchronize the development of national sections of transport infrastructure in each country.

"In 2025, freight traffic increased in virtually all [EAEU] member states. In particular, 21.5 mln metric tons were transported along the North-South Corridor. The growth in sea freight along the Trans-Caspian route is impressive. In the first seven months of 2026, its volume exceeded 4.5 mln metric tons. For comparison, that is 60% more than in all of 2025. According to expert estimates, infrastructure modernization will increase the capacity of the eastern route of this corridor to 20 mln metric tons by 2030. This route has significant potential given our cooperation with China, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Mongolia," he said.

In addition, the second stage of introducing electronic document management at Russian and Kazakh seaports has been completed, with paper documents becoming a thing of the past, Sagintayev said. The EEC head noted that the introduction of digital tools simplifies procedures and reduces costs for businesses, while accelerating the movement of goods as much as possible.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, runs through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and onward to European countries. Container shipments along the route use both rail and maritime transport.