Container transit from China via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TMTM) has seen a significant surge, increasing 14-fold since the beginning of the year to date compared to the same period last year, Kazakh state-run railway operator KTZ said in a statement on August 13. 

This highlights the growing relevance of the route in connecting China with Europe and Turkey when bypassing the territory of Russia, which continues to face international sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.

Efforts to enhance the efficiency and capacity of this multimodal transport corridor are ongoing, KTZ said. 

Currently, the delivery time from Kazakhstan’s Altynkol station to Absheron (Baku) has been reduced to just 9 days, KTZ noted. The journey to Poti/Batumi in Georgia now takes 12 days, and the route extending to Constanta in Romania via Poti/Batumi has a delivery time of 20–22 days.

In 2023, KTZ, along with the railway administrations of Azerbaijan and Georgia, established a joint venture called Middle Corridor Multimodal. This new coordination entity is designed to strengthen the multimodal services along the route, offering a "one-stop-shop" service that guarantees both delivery times and costs.

KTZ is actively working on developing port and near-port infrastructure around the Caspian Sea, in collaboration with major international logistics companies to further enhance the route's capacity and effectiveness.