BAKU – June 30, 2025
Early in the morning, container trucks line up along the edges of the Alat Free Trade Zone. The wind carries the scent of the Caspian as cranes glide over the docks. This is not the image most people associate with Azerbaijan—but it should be.
Over the past year, Baku has emerged as an unexpected protagonist in the shifting story of global trade. Thanks to the steady rise of the Middle Corridor, the capital now plays a decisive role in linking Chinese manufacturers with European markets—without relying on the congested Suez Canal or politically sensitive Russian routes.
From Backwater to Bottleneck Breaker
Just two years ago, the route passing through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and into Europe was largely seen as a backup. Today, it’s a strategic option. Data released last night by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Transport showed a 63% rise in cargo volume on the route since last summer.
Port officials in Baku say the growth has been “organic but rapid.” The Port of Baku now handles everything from Turkish textiles to Kyrgyz electronics, all funneled through an increasingly digital and efficient platform.
“It’s not just volume,” says Farid Suleymanov, a logistics coordinator for a Dutch freight firm operating in the Caucasus. “It’s consistency. Shipments arrive when they’re supposed to, and they clear faster than in many EU ports.”
Infrastructure, Yes—But Trust Even More
While millions have been invested in rail links and port expansion, experts say the real win has been building confidence. European forwarders, once skeptical, are now integrating the Middle Corridor into regular service maps. Baku’s intermodal terminals, coupled with real-time tracking and a unified customs protocol, have made the journey simpler, faster and safer.
A German pharma group recently shifted 30% of its westbound shipments through the corridor after a six-month trial. Their CEO, who requested anonymity, called it “one of our smartest strategic pivots in the last five years.”
A Signal to the Industry
With transit times from China to Germany cut by up to 12 days, and carbon emissions significantly lower than ocean freight, the Middle Corridor is turning heads. Azerbaijan’s role—once peripheral—is now central.
And yet, officials in Baku aren’t celebrating just yet. “We’re only beginning,” said a Ministry spokesperson. “The world is watching. We can’t afford to slow down.”
