The Middle Corridor, connecting China and Europe via rail, is on a growth path. Chinese container trains on the route grew by 3200 per cent year-on-year in 2024. However, attendees of a recently stakeholder meeting also revealed other developments on the route aimed at its long-term success. The Middle Corridor is digitalising, developing and expanding.
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route International Association (TITR), which tries to promote the development of the Middle Corridor, held a general assembly meeting in Baku on 4 March. The meeting came with various announcements pertaining to the development of the corridor.
In order to secure further growth on the route, the association member states announced that they had implemented “comprehensive measures […] for the management of cargo operations.” For instance, they highlight integrated analytical information systems and newly established real-time freight tracking services.
Moreover, the Middle Corridor countries introduced a “Digital Trade Corridor” – a multimodal platform that should enhance operational transparency and strengthen control mechanisms. The Singaporean “Fast Customs” platform was introduced for the same purpose.
Development and expansion
That is the extent to which the announced digitalisation measures go. In addition, the Middle Corridor is looking to expand its throughput capacity. “Particular emphasis was placed on increasing the annual cargo capacity of the Baku – Tbilisi – Kars railway line from 1 million tonnes to 5 million tonnes and the resumption of cargo operations along this route”, Azerbaijan Railways commented.
Lastly, TITR also expanded its membership base. It welcomed three new associate members: Xi’an Free Trade Port, Poti Trans Terminals and UZ Cargo Poland.
Spectacular growth
Earlier, the Middle Corridor association pointed out a number of positive developments that took place in 2024. For example, the exchange of freight between Kazakh and Azerbaijani ports on the Caspian Sea grew substantially. A total of 3,3 million tonnes of freight made its way across the Caspian, a 20 per cent increase compared to 2023. Moreover, container transportation volume nearly tripled, growing by 176 per cent to 56,500 TEU.
Most notably however, 2024 brought spectacular growth in the number of container (block) trains dispatched from China. It increased by a factor of 33, or nearly 3200 per cent. Whereas in 2023 a mere 11 container trains left China on the Middle Corridor, in 2024 that had grown to 358.