Alliance Multimodal CEO Natig Jafarov: “The Middle Corridor is no longer an option — it is a necessity for global trade”

At the Black and Caspian Freight Forum 2025, held in Baku on September 9–11, Alliance Multimodal CEO Natig Jafarov delivered a keynote address that underscored Azerbaijan’s pivotal role in shaping the future of Eurasian connectivity and the transformation of the Middle Corridor from a crisis-driven alternative into a reliable artery of global commerce.

Azerbaijan: the bridge between Asia and Europe

Opening his speech, Mr. Jafarov welcomed participants and emphasized that Azerbaijan’s geography gives it a unique role: “Simply put, Azerbaijan is at the crossroads of Eurasia. On the Caspian Sea, we connect Central Asia to the Caucasus, Türkiye, and Europe.”

He highlighted the Port of Baku as the region’s anchor, supported by modernized rail links such as the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) line and the Baku–Boyuk Kesik corridor. Looking ahead, the planned Zangezur Corridor promises to unlock another gateway, further strengthening east–west trade flows.

Infrastructure development: building the backbone

The speech detailed the significant upgrades already made to Azerbaijan’s transport system:

• Port of Baku: 150,000 TEU handling today, rising to 260,000 TEUs in two years, plus capacity for bulk, break-bulk, vehicles, and wagons.
• Railways: the Baku–Boyuk Kesik mainline now supports 30 million tons annually, while the BTK line has expanded from 5 million tons to 17 million tons.
• Future prospects: the Zangezur Corridor could add another 15 million tons per year.

“These investments,” he stressed, “show Azerbaijan’s long-term commitment to creating the backbone of the Middle Corridor.”

Global disruptions reshape supply chains

From 2020 to 2025, global trade faced unprecedented shocks:

• COVID-19 disrupted container flows and sent freight rates to historic highs.
• The Suez Canal blockage halted 12% of world trade.
• The war in Ukraine closed a major northern rail corridor.
• Red Sea instability forced vessels to reroute around Africa, adding weeks to transit times.

“These crises,” Jafarov said, “shattered the illusion of stability in global logistics. Costs soared, schedules collapsed, and the world realized how fragile traditional routes really are.”

The rise of the Middle Corridor

Against this backdrop, the Middle Corridor has emerged as a critical alternative. Jafarov illustrated the dynamics with examples:

• During COVID, sea freight costs skyrocketed, pushing demand toward the corridor — but limited capacity slowed flows.
• The war in Ukraine shifted more China–Europe cargo southward, but bottlenecks in ports and ferries caused congestion.
• When sea rates stabilized, demand dipped — proving the corridor couldn’t rely solely on crisis-driven traffic.
• By the time of the Red Sea crisis in late 2023, however, new vessels and wagons had been added. “This time,” Jafarov said, “the corridor handled nearly double the volume, smoothly and efficiently.”

The clear lesson: the Middle Corridor has matured from a backup route into a resilient, scalable system.

Diversification: a strategic necessity

Jafarov underlined that no single route can guarantee security: “Maritime chokepoints can be blocked. The northern rail corridor is constrained. The world needs redundancy.”

The Middle Corridor provides exactly that — resilience, continuity, and reliability. Yet, to achieve full sustainability, year-round capacity must be maintained: container yards, cranes, feeder vessels, wagons, and terminals must be ready, even when demand fluctuates.

Challenges and opportunities

The CEO acknowledged that challenges remain — from ferry shortages on the Caspian, to customs delays, to cost competitiveness. But he stressed that opportunities are greater:

• New terminals and vessels are already under construction.
• Customs systems are moving online.
• Governments are aligning regulations.
• Demand between Europe and Asia is steadily growing.

“With every improvement,” Jafarov noted, “the Middle Corridor becomes not just a route of resilience, but a route of opportunity.”

Alliance Multimodal’s role: from vision to projects

Mr. Jafarov then highlighted the role of the private sector in turning the corridor into reality. Founded in 2023, Alliance Multimodal has quickly become a driver of regional connectivity, offering multimodal logistics across the Caspian, Black Sea, Central Asia, Europe, and the Far East.

Its portfolio includes container and block train operations, terminal handling, project and bulk cargo, refrigerated and liquid shipments, and full end-to-end logistics solutions — from first and last mile to customs clearance and insurance.

But beyond services, Alliance Multimodal is actively investing in infrastructure:

Poti TransTerminal (Georgia)

Together with Kazakhstan’s PTC Holding and Georgian partners, Alliance Multimodal co-developed the Poti TransTerminal. Covering 9 hectares with 3.3 km of internal railway lines, it enables up to 8 block trains daily. Officially operational since June 2025, it can handle 120,000 TEUs annually, transforming Poti into a reliable EU gateway for the Middle Corridor.

Break-Bulk Express Service (Caspian Sea)

In partnership with Simurg Invest, Alliance Multimodal launched a dedicated Caspian service connecting Kazakhstan’s Kuryk Port (Sarzha Terminal) with Baku and Hovsan. Supported by the 7,500 DWT MV Nasipkali Marabay, it has already moved 90,000 tons of cargo since December 2024. The project eliminates port congestion, reduces waiting times, and delivers seamless logistics across the Caspian.

Ro-Ro Service Expansion

Alliance Multimodal also supports the expansion of Ro-Ro capacity on the Caspian, driven by GIG General Trading of Georgia. Two ferries — Tbilisi and Dostyk — are being modernized in Türkiye and will begin service in late 2025, making up to 10 voyages per month and easing current bottlenecks. By 2027, the fleet will expand to six vessels, tripling Ro-Ro capacity.

A call to action

Concluding his speech, Natig Jafarov sent a clear message:

• For shippers and cargo owners: secure your place on this corridor before the next disruption.
• For investors: support vessels, terminals, wagons, and digital systems.
• For policymakers: continue harmonization and removal of bottlenecks.

“The Middle Corridor is no longer a concept,” he said. “It is a reality — growing every year. Together, we can make it not only a route of resilience, but a route of opportunity for decades ahead.”