The Middle Corridor is booming, one could say. At least when looking at the raw data, there is definitely more and more freight travelling along the rail corridor between China and Europe. Key transit country Kazakhstan is counting on a significant volume surge of 220% by 2027.
Such growth would mean that the Middle Corridor would reach 10 million tonnes in two years from now. The Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roman Vasilenko expressed that expectation alongside new Middle Corridor statistics. He pointed out that the volume of rail freight on the route through Kazakhstan amounted to 4,5 million tonnes in 2024. That is 62% more than in 2023.
That development is good news for Kazakhstan and other countries along the Middle Corridor, who stand to gain much from improved connectivity and transit revenues. However, it is useful to put some numbers into context. Those 4,5 million tonnes may sound like a lot, and a 62% increase is significant. Yet, it is still a modest amount of freight compared to other routes.
For example, on the China – Europe route through Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus, trains transported around 90,000 TEU in the first quarter of 2024. By contrast, the Middle Corridor reached 56,500 TEU during that whole year. There is no data available on the volume through Russia in tonnes for China – Europe traffic, nor on the Kazakhstan – Russia – Belarus route. However, it is clear that the Middle Corridor still dwarfs alternative routes.
Kuryk and Aktau ports
A big reason for that is that the Middle Corridor has a number of structural obstacles that make it less financially attractive. For example, goods need to traverse the Caspian Sea. That requires transshipment onto and from ships on both shores, prolonging the journey and making it more expensive.
It then comes as no surprise that Kazakhstan is working to improve its port infrastructure on the Caspian. Earlier this week, dredging operations were announced in the Aktau port to grow its capacity and allow for future terminal upgrades. Similar works recently concluded in the Kuryk port, where the Emirate AD Ports Group is investing in infrastructure. The company is entering into a joint venture with Semurg Invest to build a multipurpose terminal in Kuryk, as well as a grain terminal.