Port News & Information Mediterranean, Black & Caspian Seas

Middle Corridor (TITR)

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, combines the countries participating in the new Silk Road project and important players of the region. Its members are leading maritime and transport companies from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, China and Turkey. The organisation aims to popularise the middle corridor, accelerate and simplify cargo transportation procedures between Asia and Europe, and make special preferential tariffs. Between East and West, in terms of cargo, the Middle Corridor helps to compete with the north-south routes.
TITR allows European companies to bypass Russia, which until now sanctions the transit of certain types of goods through the country. A number of Russian entities are under sanctions from the international community following Russia’s annexation of the Crimea in 2014. The importance of this route was underlined with the inclusion of Georgia and Azerbaijan in the European Union (EU) TEN-T network.
Ports Europe: Updated October 24, 2022

4.1 mln tonnes of cargo and 50,500 TEUs via the Middle Corridor in Jan-Nov’24

Astana, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) December 22, 2024 – Container shipments along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, Middle Corridor)...

Kazakhstan-China terminal in Xi’an increases TEU flow

Aktau, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) December 6, 2024 – On November 29, 2024, the 300th container train left the Kazakhstan-China terminal in Xi’an,...

Shrinking Caspian – stranded ports, half empty ships

Baku, Azerbaijan (Ports Europe) December 2, 2024 – The Caspian Sea is within weeks of reaching its lowest level on record, an Azerbaijani official said,...

Plagen plans methanol plant near Baku port

Baku, Azerbaijan (Ports Europe) November 25, 2024 – South Korean clean energy company Plagen has signed an initial agreement to develop a green methanol...

2.6 times more containers via Middle Corridor in Jan-Oct’24

Astana, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) November 17, 2024 – Container shipments along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, Middle Corridor),...

Uzbekistan to increase use of Port of Aktau

Aktau, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) November 13, 2024 – A delegation from double-landlocked Uzbekistan has visited Aktau Sea Commercial Port to discuss...

New grain terminal in Kazakhstan’s Kuryk port

Kuryk, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) November 12, 2024 – A new grain terminal with a capacity of 1 million tonnes per year has been commissioned in...

China joins the Middle Corridor Multimodal JV via CRTC

Xi’an, China (Ports Europe) November 11, 2024 – China, via its state-owned China Railway Container Transport Corporation (CRTC), is to join the...

Kazakhstan has transport corridor talks in France with CMA CGM

Paris, France (Ports Europe) November 6, 2024 – On a visit to France, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman...

EBRD to invest €1.25 bln in Kazakhstan for Middle Corridor

Astana, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) November 2, 2024 – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to invest in Kazakhstan 1.25...

Kazakhstan to invest in cargo transport on Irtysh River linking China and Russia

Astana, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) October 24, 2024 – Kazakhstan’s Transport Ministry has a draft “road map” for the integrated development of...

70% cargo increase along the Middle Corridor in Jan-Sep’24

Astana, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) October 11, 2024 – Cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, Middle...

Russia and Azerbaijan create committee on Caspian shallowing

Baku, Azerbaijan (Ports Europe) October 6, 2024 – “Want to kill an idea? Form a committee”. Caspian Sea shallowing has led to reduced load of ships and...

Port of Baku joins Climate Action Week

Baku, Azerbaijan (Ports Europe) October 1, 2024 – The Port of Baku has joined the Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW), being held between September...

Key role for Trans-Caspian segment of TITR

Astana, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) September 26, 2024 – In parallel with the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, Middle...

Kazakhstan’s ports handled 4.5 million tonnes of cargo in Jan-Aug’24

Kuryk, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) September 26, 2024 – Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea ports of Aktau and Kuryk handled 4.5 million tonnes of cargo in the...

Finally, a JV is created for the container hub in Aktau port

Aktau, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) September 22, 2024 – KTZ Express, Port Lianyungang and Aktau Sea Trade Port finally announced the creation of a joint...

Georgia, China sign Middle Corridor MoU

Tbilisi, Georgia (Ports Europe) September 17, 2024 – Last Friday, Georgia and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the...

200th container train from China arrives in Aktau port

Aktau, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) September 16, 2024 – The 200th container train so far in 2024 from China has arrived at Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea port...

Kazakh ports handled 1.9 mln tonnes of cargo in Jan-Aug’24 – really?

Kuryk, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) September 16, 2024 – Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea ports handled 1.9 million tonnes of cargo in the first eight months of the...

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