On September 9, 2025, an event was held at the Absheron Logistics Center to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the launch of the China (Zhejiang)–Europe Railway Express route via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), as well as the arrival of the Yiwu (China)–Baku train. At the ceremony, representatives of Zhejiang Province, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, and the Chinese Embassy emphasized that the passage of the 237th block train, comprising 100 containers, demonstrates Azerbaijan’s growing role as a key transit hub connecting Europe and Asia.
This route transports metal products, household appliances, electrical equipment, and other goods, which pass through Azerbaijan to Turkey and European countries. Since 2020, more than 14,000 trains have departed on the China (Zhejiang)–Europe route, carrying nearly 19,500 TEU containers. In January–August 2025 alone, the volume amounted to 4,182 TEU. In August, 40 trains from China arrived in Azerbaijan, and 265 in the first eight months, 104 of which were transit trains. Container handling at the Port of Baku reached nearly 70,000 TEU, 48% higher than last year.
The active development of the Middle Corridor is supported by strategic projects: the modernization of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars line with an increase in throughput to 5 million tons, the integration of the Port of Baku with the railway network, and the expansion of cooperation with China. This year, an agreement was signed between ADY and China Railway Corporation on the development of the BTK, an ADY representative was appointed at the Port of Xi’an, a 20,000 TEU terminal was opened, and CRCT joined the joint venture Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd., further demonstrating the importance of the Azerbaijani-Chinese partnership for international freight transportation.