Azerbaijan targets 30 million tons of transit cargo by 2030

Azerbaijan has set an ambitious target to reach 30 million metric tons of transit cargo by 2030, underpinned by surging container traffic and major infrastructure expansions. The strategy relies heavily on the development of the Middle Corridor as global trade routes adapt to shifting geopolitical pressures.

The disclosures were made by Rashad Hasanov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport, while speaking at the German-Azerbaijani Conference on Strategic Partnership and Connectivity in Baku on Tuesday, according to Trend's reporting. Regional supply networks have faced mounting vulnerabilities as ongoing conflicts constrain traditional northern and southern land routes, straits, sea lanes, and undersea cables. In response, international corporations and governments are actively pursuing route diversification, pushing Azerbaijan to position itself as a central node for freight and data movement.

According to APA-Economics reporting, the country's transportation strategy rests on twin pillars: the Middle Corridor for freight and a corresponding Digital Corridor for data transmission. Over the past five years, the total volume of transit cargo passing through Azerbaijan has roughly doubled, laying a strong foundation for the rapid targets set for the end of the decade.

Maritime and rail infrastructure developments are central to handling these expanding volumes. Container traffic at the Port of Baku jumped by more than 30 percent in the first nine months of the year compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. Operational improvements have already lifted container-handling capacity, with a second phase of expansion aiming to push capacity to 500,000 TEU. Furthermore, discussions are underway with German companies regarding a cooperative model to further expand the port.

Shipbuilding capabilities are also scaling to meet international demand. The Baku Shipyard has secured its first international orders, currently constructing four container ships destined for Ad Ports and Kazakhstan Railways. Meanwhile, the planned Zangezur Corridor is expected to serve as a second western transport route connecting through Nakhchivan to Türkiye, adding capacity of up to 15 million metric tons of cargo annually.

Aviation infrastructure is expanding alongside surface networks. Even as airspace restrictions affect northern and southern corridors, Azerbaijan has maintained open and secure skies. Deputy Minister Hasanov highlighted that annual transit flights have surpassed 260,000, driven by European and Asian carriers utilizing the secure pathway. Cargo operations are anchored by Silk Way West Airlines, headquartered in Baku, which handles over 500,000 tons annually and accounts for more than 15 percent of air freight between China and Germany. Construction of a new cargo airport within the Alat Free Economic Zone will soon add another 1 million tons of annual cargo capacity directly adjacent to the Port of Baku, bringing sea, rail, road, and air logistics into a single unified hub.

To sustain this growth, transport authorities emphasize the importance of balancing east-west freight flows with return cargo. Officials have called on German firms—acting as cargo owners, logistics operators, technology providers, and investors—to deepen their involvement in the next developmental phase of the Middle Corridor.

What happens next depends on the progression of infrastructure projects currently underway, including the completion of the second phase at the Port of Baku and the execution of international shipbuilding orders at the Baku Shipyard. Regional stakeholders will also monitor upcoming milestones related to the Zangezur Corridor and the realization of digital documentation systems designed to smooth passage along the entire Middle Corridor.