Caucasus

The 16th meeting of the Kazakh-Chinese Subcommittee on Railway Cooperation was held in Beijing. The parties discussed the current status and prospects of transportation between the two countries, as well as measures to enhance transit potential. Participants noted the steady growth in freight traffic and the implementation of rail infrastructure modernization projects.

AD Ports Group has summarized the results of 2025 and reported record financial results. In its annual report, titled “Curating Connectivity,” the company announced a significant expansion of international trade corridors and a strengthening of its global presence. Despite regional conflicts and a challenging macroeconomic environment, the group, according to the report, has strengthened its position in the global market.

Azerbaijan Demir Yolları (ADY) announced the launch of its Cargo Tracking digital service, designed to monitor containers traveling internationally. The new tool provides real-time information on the location of transit, export, and import cargo at any stage of the journey.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov presented an initiative to create an integrated platform for coordinating EAEU freight flows based on artificial intelligence at an expanded meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. He stated that the geographic location of the union’s countries offers significant advantages for transit and logistics, but to fully realize this potential, infrastructure modernization and the implementation of modern transportation management systems are necessary.

KTZ Express organized a new shipment of Kazakh wheat flour from Kostanay to New York using the infrastructure of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor). The shipment took place on March 10, 2026, and included 24 tons of product manufactured by Salamat Company LLP, one of Kazakhstan’s largest flour mills and a leading player in Central Asia. Growing demand for Kazakh flour confirms the sustained interest of international markets in the country’s products.

DP World (UAE), one of the world’s largest port operators, has begun design work on a new multimodal logistics complex, the DP World Tashkent Freight Terminal, in Uzbekistan. Total investment in the project is estimated at $288 million. Construction will be carried out in two phases: design work is currently underway, and construction of the first phase is scheduled to begin in June 2027 and be completed by March 2028.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly restricted amid persistent security risks. US authorities have announced the launch of a $20 billion reinsurance program designed to encourage shipping companies to return to the route. Washington believes the new scheme should reduce insurance risks and support the restoration of cargo flows through one of the world’s key energy and trade corridors.

On March 3, Silkway CA, a joint venture of the international PTC Holding group, signed an EPC contract in Tashkent with China Railway Construction Engineering Group for the construction of the first phase of a multi-functional modern logistics center. The project will be one of the largest private infrastructure projects in Central Asia and is aimed at developing regional logistics infrastructure.

Approximately 90% of cargo shipped from the Kazakh port of Kuryk is destined for Baku, from where it is then transported to international markets. This was announced following a meeting between Yerkyn Nykhmetov, General Director of Kuryk Port LLP, and representatives of the Baku International Sea Port, the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company, and the AZCON transport and communications holding company.

Logistics company Gebrüder Weiss is expanding its transportation services between China and Georgia, launching a new weekly truck service to Tbilisi. The service is aimed at companies in the South Caucasus countries that regularly import Chinese products, including electronics, consumer goods, and spare parts for machinery and automobiles. The new service is primarily designed for small shipments, which are consolidated from multiple customers for more cost-effective delivery.