President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the Aktau International Sea Port, one of Kazakhstan’s most strategic logistical hubs, as part of a broader push to enhance the country’s transit potential and secure its position as a central node in Eurasian transport corridors.
Situated at the intersection of key East-West and North-South trade routes, the port now operates a modern multipurpose terminal, offering 24/7 cargo loading and unloading services. Its location on the crossroads of international transport corridors highlights its pivotal role in both national and regional logistics infrastructure. During the visit, Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev outlined an ambitious regional development plan. According to the Minister, 24 infrastructure projects worth over 1.9 trillion tenge (approx. $4.2 billion) are currently underway across the Mangystau region.
Kazakhstan Modernizes Ports, Expands Railway Connectivity
A key focus of this development is the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR)—better known as the Middle Corridor—which has witnessed a significant spike in activity. In 2023, freight volumes along TITR rose by 62%, reaching 4.5 million tons. 358 container block trains and 27,000 trucks used this route. Kazakhstan’s exports via TITR totaled 3.2 million tons last year. Authorities plan to expand freight capacity to 10 million tons by 2028.
One of the most significant projects in Aktau is the construction of a dedicated container hub. Upon completion, the port’s handling capacity will increase from 140,000 TEUs to 240,000 TEUs, addressing the sharp rise in containerized shipments moving between China, Central Asia, and Europe. This expansion aligns with Kazakhstan’s strategy to become a land-linked, multimodal transit state, capitalizing on geopolitical shifts in trade routes and increasing demand for secure overland logistics.
In line with President Tokayev’s directive, construction has begun on a new international airport in the Kendirli resort area. The facility is expected to handle 150 passengers per hour, serving growing tourist and commercial demand. Scheduled flights to major cities like Almaty and Astana are part of the development plan. The new airport is seen as a critical enabler for transforming Kendirli into a modern seaside destination while simultaneously serving as a logistics point that supports the broader regional economy.
Political analyst Nurbulat Nyshanbay noted that Aktau’s growing logistical influence is a positive development not only for Kazakhstan but also for the entire region. One of the major factors contributing to this trend is the renewed emphasis on the Trans-Caspian route, which is considered a key part of China's "Belt and Road Initiative" and Kazakhstan's "Nurly Zhol" project. This has shifted the region’s focus from being merely an oil-export hub to a dynamic logistics center connecting Central Asia with Europe and Asia.
Furthermore, the city’s growing status as a logistical center is aligned with its role in the broader context of the Middle Corridor and the East-West trade route. Aktau has become an essential part of the fast, efficient, and secure transportation of goods from China to Europe, especially within the framework of the China-Europe and Turkey-China trade corridors.
This shift was highlighted during the recent summit in Samarkand, where the logistical potential of the Caspian Sea was discussed at length. European officials emphasized the importance of the Caspian corridor as a direct, safe, and swift transportation route from Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, to Europe.
In addition to its strategic position for global trade, Aktau is also gaining cultural significance. The city was declared the cultural capital by the Turkic Council this year, further elevating its international profile. This recognition is expected to contribute to both economic growth and cultural exchange in the region, transforming Aktau from just an export hub into a key maritime gateway linking Europe, Asia, and the Caspian region.
As Nyshanbay points out, "Aktau port is not only vital for Kazakhstan but also for the entire region. By efficiently utilizing this strategic location, Kazakhstan has the potential to become a major transportation and logistics bridge connecting Europe and Asia."
Caspian Ports Set for Major Overhaul as Container Hubs Take Shape
Kazakhstan’s infrastructure initiatives reflect a clear strategic focus on transforming the country into a key transit and logistics hub. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s tour of the Aktau International Sea Port and broader Mangystau region signals how crucial logistics and connectivity have become for Kazakhstan’s economic vision.
This focus is not coincidental – Kazakhstan’s export-driven economy heavily relies on uninterrupted transport corridors, particularly for raw material shipments. In fact, these corridors now function much like arteries of the national economy: should even one be blocked, the entire economic system risks seizing up.
The analogy is not abstract. Kazakhstan has already faced real-world disruptions with significant economic consequences. One of the most notable examples came in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In response, Western nations imposed a wave of sanctions, and the northern export routes – many of which run through Russia – became unreliable or even inaccessible.
Simultaneously, technical and geopolitical issues have repeatedly affected operations of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which is responsible for transporting a large portion of Kazakhstan’s crude oil exports. Several incidents in recent years—including storm damage, maintenance delays, and regulatory pressure—have disrupted operations, putting significant pressure on Kazakhstan’s export logistics.
Kazakhstan's previous reliance on northern transport corridors—especially those running through Russia—was once seen as a strength due to established infrastructure and cost-efficiency. However, recent events have exposed the strategic risk of over-reliance. For instance, the CPC, which transports more than 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports through a pipeline ending at the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, has been particularly problematic. In 2022 and 2023 alone, CPC operations were disrupted multiple times, highlighting the fragility of Kazakhstan’s current export pathways.
In March 2022, storm damage halted loading operations at the marine terminal. In July 2022, a Russian court threatened to suspend CPC operations over environmental violations. On February 17, 2025, a significant escalation in the Ukraine–Russia conflict reverberated far beyond the battlefield. Ukrainian drones struck the Kropotkin oil pumping station in Russia’s Krasnodar region—a critical node in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) network, which transports the lion’s share of Kazakhstan’s oil exports to global markets. The Kropotkin pumping station, targeted in the attack, is one of the key pressure-boosting hubs within the CPC system, enabling crude to move efficiently across southern Russia. Its temporary disablement caused immediate concerns in Astana, where officials closely monitor any threats to the continuity of oil shipments.
Although the drone strike did not reportedly lead to a full shutdown of the pipeline, it highlighted the vulnerability of Kazakhstan’s reliance on Russian infrastructure for access to international markets. Any prolonged disruption at Kropotkin—or elsewhere along the CPC route—could severely impact Kazakhstan’s export volumes, revenues, and budgetary stability. This incident once again underlines the strategic risks of geopolitical entanglement. While Kazakhstan maintains a neutral stance in the Russia–Ukraine war, its economy remains deeply intertwined with infrastructure physically located in Russian territory.
In other instances, geopolitical tensions translated into regulatory obstacles, with Moscow leveraging its control over CPC as a political tool. These experiences underscored a harsh reality: Kazakhstan’s energy lifeline could be pinched or severed by circumstances beyond its control.
Kazakhstan Modernizes Ports, Expands Railway Connectivity
Kazakhstan has absorbed these lessons and is now reshaping its connectivity policy with greater urgency and foresight. Investments in diversified infrastructure are not just economic decisions—they are strategic safeguards designed to protect national sovereignty and long-term growth. As global trade routes shift and geopolitical risks intensify, Kazakhstan’s pivot toward multi-vector transit development reflects a broader reality for landlocked nations: connectivity is not optional—it is existential.
These vulnerabilities have prompted Kazakhstan to urgently diversify its transit routes, reducing dependence on any single corridor or neighboring state. In this context, the government is placing strong emphasis on The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), or Middle Corridor, connecting China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus, and Europe.
New road and rail infrastructure projects, including the Central-West highway and expanded connections to ports on the Caspian. Maritime and air logistics, particularly through upgrades to Aktau Port and the construction of a new airport in Kendirli. These initiatives aim not only to increase Kazakhstan’s export capacity, but to buffer the economy against external shocks and ensure the flow of key commodities like oil, metals, and grain continues under all geopolitical scenarios.
The country is undertaking significant improvements to its road infrastructure, with approximately 12,000 kilometers of roads scheduled for repair and construction. This includes major national highways such as the Jezkazgan–Petropavl, Karaganda–Aygöz–Bügaz, and Atyrau–Oral routes, which are undergoing complex and medium-scale repairs. Additionally, local road networks are being rehabilitated, including routes like Aktau–Fort-Shevchenko and Turkistan–Shauildir, to enhance regional accessibility.
Notably, the construction of the Central-Western Highway, which passes through Arkalyk, has commenced. This project is expected to improve transportation links for over 70,000 residents and reduce travel distances from Astana to western regions by approximately 600 kilometers.
Kazakhstan is also investing in its railway sector, with 5,000 kilometers of railways undergoing construction and modernization. Key projects include the expansion of the Dostyk–Moyinty section to quintuple its capacity and the development of new branches like Kyzylzhar–Moyinty, which will shorten travel distances by 150 kilometers.
The TransKazakhstan Railway Corridor is being upgraded to facilitate increased freight traffic, while the modernization of the Altynkol terminal aims to bolster export potential. These initiatives are expected to enhance the efficiency of cargo transportation across the region.
In the aviation sector, Kazakhstan is constructing new airports in resort areas such as Zaysan, Katon-Karagay, and Kendirli. These developments are intended to boost domestic tourism and passenger air transportation, stimulating economic growth in these regions and attracting both domestic and international tourists.
These infrastructure projects are anticipated to have a substantial impact on Kazakhstan's economy. The initiatives are expected to contribute up to 1% to the country's GDP growth and create over 31,000 jobs by 2029. Moreover, the enhanced transportation networks will solidify Kazakhstan's status as a unique transit and logistics center in Eurasia, facilitating more efficient movement of goods and people across the continent. By investing in these comprehensive infrastructure upgrades, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a central player in regional and international trade, enhancing its connectivity and economic resilience.
TITR Seeks to Reduce Dependency on Northern Routes Amid Geopolitical Shifts
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (TITR) is quickly becoming one of the most promising and beneficial routes for Kazakhstan, connecting East to West and North to South. With a combination of rail, sea, and dry port infrastructure, this corridor offers a truly multimodal transportation system. Currently, it handles 6 million tons of cargo annually, and with planned expansions, it is expected to reach 10 million tons by 2025.
On April Kazakhstan's Minister of Transport, Marat Karabayev, participated in the IV Diplomatic Forum held in Antalya, which brought together over 6,000 participants, including 21 heads of state and government and 64 ministers. The central theme of this year's forum was "Restoring Diplomacy in the World."
During his speech, Minister Karabayev introduced the strategic vision and practical steps for the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor). He emphasized that the Middle Corridor is not merely a transportation route but a digital, energy, and logistical artery connecting Asia and Europe.
"Under the instructions of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, we are on our way to make Kazakhstan the key logistical hub in the region, connecting Asia and Europe," the Minister stated.
Panel session participants noted significant progress in strengthening integration processes and discussed the current status and future prospects of multilateral cooperation between Turkic states. The role of the OTS in overcoming geopolitical challenges and promoting initiatives like the Middle Corridor was highlighted. Speakers stressed the importance of implementing practical projects aimed at bringing nations closer together and developing regional infrastructure in the face of global turbulence.
The Trans-Caspian route is an essential part of Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to diversify its transportation routes. However, developing and deepening this route with the goal of making it a primary trade artery for the country is the long-term ambition. To achieve this, the government has ramped up investments, particularly in Aktau Port, which is poised to become a central hub in the Trans-Caspian network.
According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the state-owned rail transport company, in the first half of 2023, over 2.6 million tons of dry and oil cargo were handled through Aktau Seaport. In addition, oil transportation volumes via the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline have increased, adding to the cargo traffic along the Trans-Caspian corridor and contributing to the expansion of this transport route.
The target is to increase the cargo flow along the Trans-Caspian corridor to 500,000 containers per year by 2030. This ambitious goal will be supported by the development of new container hubs and logistics facilities. Specifically, in 2025, a new container hub will be launched at Aktau Port, designed to handle a wide range of services for international trade.
In addition to the investments in Aktau, the development of a new dry port at the “Bakti” crossing is also planned. To boost the throughput capacity of the Middle Corridor, the President has instructed Kazakhstan Temir Zholy to transform into a transport and logistics company, offering comprehensive and efficient services to meet the growing demand for trade across the region.
The development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor is increasingly important as global trade flows intensify. Goods are now coming from regions like Southeast Asia and China for transport via Kazakhstan to Europe. This surge in trade demands the continuous modernization and expansion of the Trans-Caspian route, which will be critical in handling larger volumes in the coming years.
To keep up with these demands, companies like PTC Holding are investing in new infrastructure. For example, PTC Holding began the construction of a container terminal at the Port of Poti in Georgia in October 2024, which aligns with the expansion goals of the Trans-Caspian network.
Kazakhstan’s strategic development also includes the port of Kuryk, which saw over 1 million tons of cargo in the first half of 2023 alone. A new multifunctional “Sarja” marine terminal will be constructed at Kuryk in the coming year to further expand its capacity. In addition to port infrastructure, Kazakhstan is also expanding its rail connections. One of the major developments is the Dostyk–Moyinty railway, which bypasses Almaty, aiming to increase trade volumes between Kazakhstan and China by five times.
Multilateral Cooperation Key to Unlocking the Corridor’s Potential
Since last year, the countries of Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Azerbaijan have partnered to form Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd, headquartered in Astana. This joint venture is focused on streamlining operations across the corridor, offering single-window services to guarantee more predictable delivery times and cost reductions. This partnership is aligned with the goal of increasing cargo volumes between China and Europe, as well as Turkey and China.
One of the key goals for Kazakhstan is to shorten transit times for goods passing through the Middle Corridor. Historically, transporting goods from China via the Trans-Caspian route to Black Sea ports took around 53 days. Now, this has been reduced to 18-23 days, and there are plans to bring this down even further to 10-15 days in the coming years.
However, there are several challenges that need to be addressed. For instance, ports in the Caspian Sea, such as Aktau, Kuryk, and Turkmenbashi, as well as Constanta Port in Romania, which handles European transit, still do not have sufficient capacity to fully meet growing demand. Additionally, there is a shortage of cargo vessels, which limits the speed of expanding transport capabilities.
Charles Kunaka, the lead transport specialist at the World Bank, provides an insightful analysis of the challenges hindering the growth of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TCTM). While the corridor holds immense potential for facilitating trade between China and the European Union (EU), Kunaka points out that it remains primarily a regional route with significant obstacles that need to be addressed.
Kunaka highlights that the issues plaguing the TCTM are largely operational rather than infrastructural. Although the corridor has the capacity to handle a substantial share of trade between China and the EU, several factors have kept it from realizing its full potential. These include high and unstable pricing, lengthy delivery times, and a general lack of reliability. These operational inefficiencies cause significant delays at transport hubs, particularly where different transport modes converge. The absence of streamlined procedures and uniform pricing across various segments of the route further exacerbates these challenges.
In addition to operational problems, Kunaka mentions several infrastructure-related limitations that hinder the development of the corridor. These include outdated customs procedures, inadequate handling capacities at certain ports (particularly in western Kazakhstan, such as in Aktau), and the deterioration of essential transport assets like wagons, platforms, and ships. The lack of a dedicated logistical hub in key areas further compounds these issues, making the flow of goods less efficient than it could be.
Kunaka also stresses that the development of the TCTM is not just a matter of domestic interest for Kazakhstan. Global powers such as China, Turkey, and the European Union have a significant stake in the corridor’s success, and each of these nations will weigh their own interests and capabilities in shaping the future of the route. Kazakhstan, meanwhile, is focused on advancing its own strategic goals, particularly in terms of increasing its exports, enhancing its regional influence, and boosting economic development through improved connectivity.
As the TCTM continues to develop, the potential for increased trade between Kazakhstan and its regional partners becomes more apparent. For instance, Kazakhstan is expected to see a significant rise in the export of grain to Azerbaijan and Turkey, while the import of fruits and vegetables from Azerbaijan is set to increase. The gradual expansion of the TCTM is also expected to strengthen links between Central Asia and the Middle East, opening new avenues for trade and economic cooperation.
Kunaka also emphasizes the importance of the TCTM in boosting Kazakhstan's oil export capacity. Currently, much of Kazakhstan’s oil is exported through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) via the Russian port of Novorossiysk. However, the risks associated with relying on this route have been increasing. In this context, expanding the TCTM could play a key role in diversifying Kazakhstan’s oil export routes and reducing its dependency on the CPC.
In recent years, international collaboration has been instrumental in advancing the TCTM. A key development came with the signing of an agreement between the EU and partner countries to establish the "Europe-Caucasus-Asia" transport corridor, which includes the TCTM. This memorandum has opened the door for increased investment from international financial institutions.
According to a study by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), an investment of €18.5 billion is needed to improve the TCTM's capacity and ensure seamless transport. The EU has already pledged €10 billion of this amount, with €1.5 billion specifically allocated for strategic transport infrastructure projects in Central Asia.
Transit Time Halved
Alec Mally, co-founder and Executive Director for Global Economy and Southeast Europe at NE Global Media, insures that the corridor offers strategic advantages not only for Kazakhstan, but also for the broader Central Asian and Caucasus regions.
“The Middle Corridor has the potential to strengthen the economic sovereignty of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Turkey,” Mally writes, citing recent Asian Development Bank research. He notes that as rail traffic through Ukraine and Russia remains uncertain, countries along the Middle Corridor are emerging as crucial partners for the European Union.
Mally highlights that Kazakhstan, with its location at the crossroads of Eurasia, plays a central role in this transformation. He refers to official estimates suggesting that 80% of overland freight from China to Europe currently passes through Kazakhstan—though not all via the Middle Corridor itself.
He points to Kazakhstan’s recent efforts to expand infrastructure: “Kazakhstan plans to build 1,300 kilometers of new railway and is already laying 800 kilometers of additional track connecting to the Chinese border,” Mally explains. He also emphasizes the importance of upgrading the country’s Caspian ports, particularly Aktau, Kuryk, and the new Sarzha terminal.
“The transit time from China’s Pacific coast to Georgia’s Supsa port has been reduced from 38–53 days in 2021 to just 18–23 days by the end of 2022,” Mally reports. According to him, Kazakhstan’s internal transit time has dropped to as little as five days.
Mally also mentions that a joint venture—Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd.—has been established by Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia to coordinate regional rail operations. In parallel, customs documentation is being digitized to ease border crossings across the Caspian Sea.
While the Middle Corridor is not seen as a replacement for China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Mally stresses that it is increasingly being viewed as a complementary route. He adds that the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative, as well as broader partnerships for global infrastructure and investment, are providing crucial financial backing—up to €18.5 billion is needed, with €10 billion already pledged. In conclusion, Mally writes that with continued investment and regional cooperation, the Middle Corridor could evolve from a strategic alternative to a dominant trade artery connecting East and West.
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route represents a crucial part of Kazakhstan’s transport and logistics strategy. As global trade continues to increase, particularly between China and Europe, the route’s role in connecting East and West will only grow. By investing heavily in infrastructure, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a key player in international trade, with the aim of not only increasing its own export capacity but also becoming a central logistics hub for the entire region.