Kazakhstan launches Caspian container hub

Kazakhstan has launched a new international container hub at the Caspian Sea port of Aktau, Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) said.

The project, developed jointly with China’s Port of Lianyungang, is aimed at increasing the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or Middle Corridor, linking China with Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

The first freight train carrying 55 containers from China’s Zhejiang province arrived at the new terminal. The cargo will be shipped across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan before continuing to European markets. 

KTZ said the hub would speed up cargo handling and strengthen Kazakhstan’s role as a key transit link on the Middle Corridor. 

N. Tebrizli