On November 24, Azerbaijan and China celebrated a historic moment: for the first time, an export cargo was sent from Baku to China by rail. This event marks a new stage in the development of economic and transport ties between the countries, emphasizing the strategic importance of Azerbaijan in international transportation. In addition to the transit and import of goods from China through the Middle Corridor, sending export cargo from Azerbaijan to China significantly increases the efficiency of this route. The rapid development of the Middle Corridor contributes to the increase in cargo transportation volumes both to the east and to the west.
The ceremony of sending the first export train was held with the participation of representatives of the railways of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, the leadership of the Secretariat of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TCITR) and officials of the international port of Xi’an Changba (China).
The first export block train “Baku-Xi’an” consists of 62 containers of 40 feet in length. The cargo will be transported along a multimodal route through Kazakhstan to one of the largest dry ports in China – the port of Xi’an. By the end of the year, it is planned to ship 15,000 tons of goods (600 containers) along this route.
Arif Agave, Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways (AR), noted the importance of the event, emphasizing that the initiative will not only increase Azerbaijan’s export potential, but also strengthen its strategic position in global trade.
“This step will significantly improve cargo transportation along the West-East route and open up new opportunities for local entrepreneurs,” – Arif Agave added.
Ziya Agave, Chairman of the Board of the Absheron Logistics Center, noted that the project will strengthen Azerbaijan’s status as a transit country and open up new markets for domestic producers. The joint efforts of key players such as Azerbaijan Railways, the Absheron Logistics Center, Baku International Sea Trade Port and the Caspian Shipping Company demonstrate effective cooperation within the Middle Corridor.
Since the beginning of 2024, 280 container block trains have been sent from China to Azerbaijan via the Middle Corridor, with more than 300 trains expected by the end of the year, with plans to increase this number to 1,000 trains by 2025.