- The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has recorded sustained freight volume growth since 2022, accelerating significantly in 2024 and 2025
- Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are each advancing infrastructure investment programmes aligned with the corridor’s expanding role
- Multilateral financing from the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Development Bank is providing the capital and governance frameworks necessary to address persistent bottlenecks
- Instability affecting key maritime chokepoints, including the Strait of Hormuz, has reinforced the strategic case for the corridor’s continued development
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, is a multimodal trade route linking China and Central Asia to Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Combining rail and maritime infrastructure, it offers an alternative to northern routes through Russia and southern maritime routes via the Suez Canal.
Its importance has increased since 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted traditional Eurasian freight corridors. More recently, instability affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for around one-fifth of global oil trade, has reinforced the need for diversified overland routes that reduce exposure to maritime risk and geopolitical disruption. Against this backdrop, the TITR is gaining traction among governments and logistics operators seeking more resilient supply chains.
Faster transit times
Freight volumes along the corridor have grown steadily. Transit volumes were over 2m tonnes in the first nine months of 2025 and were expected to reach around 5m tonnes by year-end, made up mostly of dry cargo, followed by hydrocarbons, according to industry media. A World Bank assessment suggests that, with the right investments and policy reforms, transit volumes along the corridor could reach around 11 million tonnes annually by 2030, roughly tripling from early-2020s levels. Growth in Chinese cargo has been particularly strong. In 2024, freight volumes transported from China via the TITR increased sharply, according to Azerbaijan Railway figures, reflecting both the rerouting of cargo away from Russia and alignment with China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Transit times have also improved. End-to-end delivery between China and Europe via the corridor had been reduced to approximately 18-23 days by 2024, according to industry media, compared to 38-53 days previously, supported by infrastructure upgrades and operational improvements across key segments.
Kazakhstan: expanding capacity and investment
Kazakhstan forms the backbone of the corridor’s overland segment and is investing heavily to expand capacity. In early 2026, the World Bank approved an $846m guarantee supporting $1.4bn in financing for Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway operator, with additional backing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The programme is linked to operational reforms aimed at improving efficiency, particularly at Caspian ports such as Aktau and Kuryk. Alongside transport infrastructure, Kazakhstan is pursuing industrial development tied to the corridor, which also supports exports of critical minerals. Kazakhstan is the world’s largest uranium producer and accounts for 14% of global output, underscoring the route’s strategic importance beyond general freight.
Uzbekistan: strengthening regional connectivity
Although the core TITR route passes through Kazakhstan, an Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan route from Central East Asia to the Caspian Sea is also under development, with Uzbekistan increasing its role as a transit and logistics hub in the region. Freight volumes between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan rose by around 16% between 2024 and 2025. The $542m Darbaza-Maktaaral rail line, the third between the two countries, is expected to be completed in 2026, improving capacity and reducing bottlenecks. The country is also investing in road infrastructure. The Asian Development Bank has committed up to $233m for the upgrade of 87 km of the A380 highway, a key domestic and regional corridor. In parallel, Uzbekistan is introducing digital customs systems to streamline border procedures and reduce transit times. The planned China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is expected to be completed by 2026, which will further enhance connectivity by providing a more direct link to Chinese markets.
Azerbaijan: a key hub in the Caspian region
Azerbaijan plays a central role in the corridor as a key transit point across the Caspian Sea. Transit cargo volumes moving through the country – including road, rail and air – increased by 8% in 2024 to reach 114.5m tonnes, according to the Azerbaijan Coordination Council for Transit Cargo. Rail volumes alone grew by 6% in 2024, with further growth expected. The Port of Baku, located in Alat, around 70km outside of Baku, is also undergoing expansion, with local media reporting that a second development phase will raise throughput capacity to 25m tonnes of cargo and 500,000 twenty-foot equivalent units.
Investment needs and governance challenges
Significant investment is still required to unlock the corridor’s full potential. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) estimates that around EUR18.5bn is needed for transport infrastructure across Central Asia linked to the corridor.
International financial institutions have already pledged substantial funding. The EU and its partners have committed EUR10bn towards sustainable transport connectivity in the region, with financing from the EBRD and European Investment Bank supporting projects across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Read More from OBG
