A visit of Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to Kazakhstan has potentially yielded some positive results for the Middle Corridor, the China – Europe transport route that bypasses Russia. Kobakhidze dropped by Kazakh Railways’ (KTZ) office, and soon after, KTZ announced the possibility of a new terminal in the future port of Anaklia.
The deep sea port of Anaklia still needs to be built. Contract negotiations were ongoing with the China Communication Construction Company as of September 2024. But KTZ is evidently planning ahead, and is already expressing interest in a spot for itself. Once finished, the port would provide an alternative to the port of Poti, which currently is the main Georgian Black Sea port on the Middle Corridor.
Somewhat predictably, considering the port is yet to be built, KTZ says that “the project is at the development stage”, with preliminary assessments and analysis being underway. “Parameters, implementation deadlines and budget” are also being developed, the operator says.
“The acquisition of terminal equipment in the port of Anaklia is not considered separately. It is planned to acquire equipment after the construction of the terminal” the company adds.
Middle Corridor growth
KTZ highlights that the idea of building a terminal in the Georgian port of Anaklia came about due to the growth in freight volumes along the Middle Corridor. “In 2024, the route reached record levels, demonstrating a 28-fold increase compared to 2023. According to PwC forecasts, by 2030, the volume of container transportation along the Middle Corridor may reach 287 thousand TEU, 8 times higher than the results of 2024.”