Kazakhstan is actively advancing the development of its segment within the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. Official data reveals a substantial surge, with 2.5 million tons of goods transshipped through the Aktau and Kuryk seaports along the TITR route during the first 11 months of 2023, marking a notable 107 percent increase compared to the previous year. In a landmark move, Kazakh oil made its inaugural journey along the Middle Corridor in 2023.
To bolster the route’s efficiency, railway administrations from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia inked pivotal agreements in October 2023, establishing a unified operator for logistical services. Collaborative efforts with Turkey are underway to eliminate bottlenecks, while discussions about implementing a “single window” system for TITR transportation logistics are ongoing, with the complete digital corridor launch slated for 2024. Kazakhstan has further expanded its Middle Corridor endeavors by signing agreements with China in October 2023, focusing on enhancing export-import and transit transportation, securing China’s financial support for port infrastructure projects, and fostering multimodal transport development along the TITR.
As part of the comprehensive strategy, Kazakhstan aims to streamline road delivery to the Aktau and Kuryk ports by constructing the 515-km-long Shalkar-Beyneu highway, currently in the feasibility study phase. These proactive measures are anticipated to elevate the Middle Corridor’s throughput capacity to 10 million tons annually by 2027. Serving as a vital transportation and trade link connecting Asia and Europe, the Middle Corridor offers an alternative to the traditional Northern and Southern corridors, traversing Central Asian countries, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye to provide a direct land route from China to Europe, bypassing lengthy maritime alternatives.
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