The first-ever shipment of Georgian-origin copper concentrate has departed from Poti Port, APM Terminals confirmed this month, with 6,500 tonnes of product bound for European markets. The cargo was transported to the port by rail and loaded onto general cargo vessels in big bags for onward shipment.
The milestone marks Georgia’s entry into copper concentrate exports and signals growing ambitions to position the Black Sea port as a regional logistics hub for bulk flows from both Georgia and Central Asia.
Strategic partnership to scale up inland logistics
The operation was carried out in partnership with KCB Alliance, a recently launched inland terminal that signed a strategic cooperation agreement with APM Terminals Poti last month. The deal is expected to pave the way for regular shipments and closer coordination on inland logistics.
“This is more than a single shipment,” said Iain Rawlinson, CCO of APM Terminals Poti. “We are fully equipped and ready to serve as a key gateway for transporting not only Georgian but also Central Asian cargo to Europe.”
Poti Port bets on bulk growth amid Middle Corridor shift
The port’s central rail connections, warehousing capacity and existing handling infrastructure have already made it a key conduit for container traffic moving along the Middle Corridor. However, the company states that bulk flows, such as copper concentrate, are a strategic growth area, and it plans to invest in new equipment and upgrades to meet the increasing demand.
With supply chains from Central Asia shifting away from traditional Russian routes, Georgia’s overland corridors are playing a growing role in East–West trade, especially for raw materials, metals, and industrial inputs.