ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 29. Kazakhstan and China will increase container transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor), Trend reports.
Corresponding measures are provided for in the Agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and China on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, including for container trains between China and Europe, which was ratified today by the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan. The agreement was signed in Beijing on October 17, 2023.
This agreement is aimed at further developing cooperation to increase export-import and transit transportation for container trains across the territories of the two countries.
The execution of the agreement is anticipated to lead to the approval of the potential yearly volume of cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor, the authorization of the data exchange on tracking rolling stock on both states' territory, and China's assistance in financing the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route's oil pipeline and port infrastructure, as well as the establishment of goods transit transportation between Kazakhstan and China.
Notably, in 2023, the volume of container traffic along the Middle Corridor decreased by 39 percent - to 20,500 TEUs against 33,600 TEUs in 2022. However, from January through April 2024, container traffic amounted to 10,400 TEU, an increase of 70.4 percent compared to the same period last year (6,100 TEU).
Based on projections from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Middle Corridor's container traffic volume is expected to reach 470,000 TEU by 2040 as a result of investment projects and measures to maintain continuous communications on the TITR. Additionally, approximately 800,000 TEU overall when accounting for the Central Asian countries.
The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor.
The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye before reaching Europe.
The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the longer maritime routes.