Təqribi çatma vaxtı
22 Noyabr 09:28:51
On November 24, for the first time in the history of trade relations between Azerbaijan and China, export cargo was shipped from Baku to China via rail. This milestone marks a new phase in the development of economic and transport ties between the two countries, while also underscoring Azerbaijan's strategic role in international freight transportation. In addition to the transit and import of goods from China through the Middle Corridor, the delivery of export cargo from Azerbaijan to China further enhances the efficiency of this route. The rapid development of the Middle Corridor continues to boost cargo volumes in both eastbound and westbound directions.
The ceremony marking the departure of the first export train was attended by senior representatives of the railways of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, the leadership of the Secretariat of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), and officials from the Management Committee of Xi’an Chanba International Port (China).
The first export block train "Baku–Xi’an" consists of 62 40-foot containers. The cargo will be transported via a multimodal route through Kazakhstan to one of China’s largest dry ports, the Xi’an Port. As part of the project, 15,000 tons of goods (600 containers) are planned to be shipped to China via this route by the end of this year.
Arif Agayev, Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY), highlighted the significance of this landmark event during his speech at the ceremony:
“This initiative will not only elevate Azerbaijan’s export potential to a new level but also strengthen our country’s strategic position in the global trade system. Today’s event plays a major role in facilitating cargo transportation in both directions along the West-East route. Now, local entrepreneurs can ship their goods directly to China through the Middle Corridor. Azerbaijan Railways is actively working on several key projects to transform our country into an international transport and logistics hub.”
Ziya Agayev, Chairman of the Board of Apsheron Logistics Center, who also attended the event, emphasized that this development would strengthen Azerbaijan’s status as a transit country and open new markets for local producers:
“Today, for the first time, we are exporting goods of Azerbaijani origin through the Middle Corridor in the form of block containers. This project will contribute to the development of the local economy and attract foreign investors to our country. Azerbaijan’s integration into the global trade network is progressing rapidly.”
The regular shipment of export cargo to China opens up new opportunities to increase freight volumes and revenues for key stakeholders in this process, including Azerbaijan Railways, Apsheron Logistics Center, Baku International Sea Trade Port, and Caspian Shipping Company CJSC. This coordination between public and private entities serves as a prime example of partnership, showcasing the effective collaboration of operators along the Azerbaijani segment of the Middle Corridor.
Previously, export goods were delivered to global markets via Georgia's Black Sea ports. Now, alongside this route, Azerbaijan’s own ports and infrastructure are being utilized to create new logistics solutions, enabling these operations to be carried out directly. Azerbaijan Railways, Apsheron Logistics Center, Baku International Sea Trade Port, and Caspian Shipping Company are working together to develop these initiatives.
It should be noted that since the beginning of 2024, 280 container block trains have been dispatched from China to Azerbaijan via the Middle Corridor. By the end of the year, over 300 such trains are expected to arrive, with plans to triple the number to 1,000 trains by 2025.
