Kazakhstan to Acquire Six New Container Ships to Strengthen Middle Corridor Capacity

Kazakhstan’s national maritime carrier, KazmorTransFlot, will purchase six new container vessels in an effort to increase cargo volumes moving through the Middle Corridor.

The announcement was made by Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of Kazakhstan Railways, during a briefing with journalists, The Caspian Post informs via local media.

Aldybergenov said the primary challenge for the trans-Caspian route remains the shortage of vessels and ferries operating on the Caspian Sea. “At the moment, the Caspian Sea crossing remains the key limiting factor affecting the speed and stable rhythm of transportation along the Middle Corridor,” he stated.

The new container ships are expected to begin operating on the route in the first half of 2027. Aldybergenov also highlighted ongoing infrastructure development at the port of Aktau, where Kazakhstan is constructing a large container hub. “The first pilot terminal will be commissioned by the end of this year, with an annual capacity of 140,000 TEU,” he said.

In the second phase, the terminal’s total capacity will be expanded to 240,000 TEU, with the upgrade scheduled for completion in 2026.

He also noted that cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor is set for a major boost as China Railway Container Transport Corp. Ltd. (CRCT) joins the joint venture Middle Corridor Multimodal LLC. The development is expected to double freight volumes on the strategic route in the coming years.

Aldybergenov said that transit traffic along the Middle Corridor continues showing strong momentum. “Currently, transportation along this route is growing at a rate of 12 per cent. Over the first ten months of 2025, 317 container trains were dispatched from China to Azerbaijan via this corridor,” he noted.

He added that cargo turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan has increased sevenfold over the past four years. From January to October 2025 alone, freight volumes reached 4.1 million tons, highlighting the corridor’s rapidly growing appeal for regional and international shippers.

CRCT’s planned accession to the joint venture follows a memorandum of cooperation signed in September 2024. Middle Corridor Multimodal LLC is jointly established by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia, and aims to enhance the efficiency and coordination of regular container train services originating from China.

In 2024, a total of 358 block trains were dispatched along the China-Central Asia-Azerbaijan route, reflecting expanding demand for the trans-Caspian logistics corridor.