Export train to China passes on Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway for the first time

By Natalia Kochiashvili

Thursday, December 10

Baku-Tbilisi-Kars is a railway route that passes through Georgia and is the logistical part of the corridor that connects Europe and Asia.

In the past two years, the flow of transport cargo has only gone from China; now, it will be possible to ship via the middle corridor from Europe to China as well.

Baku - Tbilisi - Cargo transportation to China on the Kars railway was carried out for the first time - on December 8, late in the evening, a train arrived in Georgia, departing from the Turkish city of Istanbul on December 4.

"This event is unprecedented, because until now, through the middle transport corridor, the cargo was directed from China to Europe," - said the Ministry of Economy.

The train, which will arrive in China's Xi'an Province via the Middle Railway Corridor (which includes the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway crossing), will cover 8,693 kilometers in 12 days.

Baku - Tbilisi - Kars is a new railway route through Georgia, which is the logistical part of the corridor that connects Europe and Asia. This railway line has been operating in test mode since 2017.

In January-October 2020, the number of containers shipped via the middle corridor amounted to 2343 TEU, which is 35.1% more than in the same period of 2019 (1734 TEU). 1260 TEU were transported in January-October 2020, which is 371.9% more than in the same period of 2019 (267 TEU)

The corridor over Georgia is distinguished not only by the advantages caused by the geographical location but also by the developed infrastructure and institutional system accompanied by simplified and digitized customs and border crossing procedures.

At the same time, work has begun on the issues of digitization of transport systems within the country (including ports) and the transport corridor. Added to this is the potential for diversification of the supply chain in Georgia, which is reflected in the existence of sea, land, and rail links with neighboring countries.

“The above-mentioned projects and activities are important to increase the competitiveness of the transport corridors to Georgia,” the ministry said.

According to the Minister, the mentioned corridor will increase the possibility of exporting products exported from Georgia to China, especially wine.