China to send 7 block trains with cargo to Azerbaijan in January PHOTO

Azerbaijan Railways company continues effectively cooperating with the Middle Corridor participants.

The company continues cooperating for more development, the timely and safe transportation of Chinese transit cargo through Azerbaijan to Europe and in the opposite direction, Azerbaijan Railways told Caliber.Az.

There is progress in such issues as determining a transparent pricing policy, optimising the cargo delivery period and tracking cargo in the corridor through the navigation system as a result of successful negotiations held by Azerbaijan Railways and the railway companies of China, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Türkiye.

Thus, a block train sent from China on December 30, 2023, arrived in Azerbaijan on January 11, 2024. The first block train this year has also arrived at its destination within just 11 days, thereby demonstrating the importance and competitiveness of the corridor.

A block train consisting of 57 rail cars mainly transported electric vehicles, construction materials, pipes of various sizes and other products from China to Azerbaijan.

According to the reached agreement, as part of the transportation of Chinese goods along the Middle Corridor and increasing the cargo transportation volume, seven block trains with imported products are planned to be sent to Azerbaijan, as well as two block trains with transit cargo - to Europe in January 2023.

The import of Chinese goods to Azerbaijan contributes to the development of local entrepreneurship. The transportation of transit cargo will create ample opportunities for transporting new cargo via the Middle Corridor.

The volume of universal containers (TEU) transported in 2023 increased by 24,000 TEU and exceeded 100,000 TEU compared to 2022, increasing by 30 per cent. The import of goods via containers increased by 77 per cent while exports by 159 per cent.

Azerbaijan Railways created a joint venture called Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd in 2023 on parity terms with Kazakhstan Railway Company and Georgian Railway Company to increase the cargo transportation volume along the Middle Corridor and transport new cargo. The joint venture will render services based on the “single window” principle, guarantee cargo delivery period and implement a coordinated policy for the development of multimodal services in the China-Europe/Türkiye-China direction.