For the first time in the history of Azerbaijan-China trade relations, an export train carrying Azerbaijani goods departed from Baku to China, highlighting a new chapter in economic and transport cooperation between the two nations. The event underscores Azerbaijan’s growing role as a strategic transit hub in international freight transportation.
The inaugural export train, consisting of 62 forty-foot containers, is part of a larger initiative to enhance connectivity between the two countries via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. The cargo will be transported multimodally through Kazakhstan to Xi’an, one of China’s largest dry ports.
A ceremony marking this significant event was attended by senior representatives from the railway authorities of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, the leadership of the TITR Secretariat, and officials from the Xi’an Chanba International Port Management Committee.
Arif Agayev, Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, emphasized the importance of this milestone, stating: “This initiative elevates Azerbaijan’s export potential to a new level and strengthens our strategic position in the global trade system. The event today is pivotal for facilitating cargo movement in both directions along the West-East corridor. Local entrepreneurs now have a direct route to China through the Middle Corridor. As Azerbaijan Railways, we are working on numerous projects to transform our country into an international transport and logistics hub.”
The Chairman of the Board of the Absheron Logistics Center, Ziya Agayev, added: “This development bolsters Azerbaijan’s status as a transit country and opens opportunities for local producers to access new markets. For the first time, we are exporting Azerbaijani goods using block containers via the Middle Corridor. This project will stimulate the local economy and increase foreign investors’ interest in our country.”
As part of the project, it is planned to deliver 15,000 tons, or 600 containers, of export goods to China through this route by the end of 2024. The initiative is expected to boost the efficiency of the Middle Corridor and further increase trade volumes in both East-West and West-East directions.
In parallel, Azerbaijan Railways, the Absheron Logistics Center, the Baku International Sea Trade Port, and the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company are implementing direct export processes through Azerbaijan’s own ports and facilities, creating new logistics solutions and reducing reliance on Black Sea ports in Georgia for international exports.
The regular dispatch of export goods to China opens new opportunities for increasing freight volumes and revenues for all stakeholders involved. These include Azerbaijan Railways, the Absheron Logistics Center, the Baku International Sea Trade Port, and the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company. This collaboration exemplifies a successful public-private partnership and demonstrates the coordinated efforts of key operators within Azerbaijan’s segment of the Middle Corridor.
Since the beginning of 2024, 280 container block trains have been dispatched from China to Azerbaijan. By the end of the year, it is expected that more than 300 container block trains will arrive in Azerbaijan via this route. Looking ahead, plans are in place to increase the number of route trains to over 1,000 by 2025, tripling the current capacity.
