BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 4. Georgia's seaports
handled 9.7 million tonnes of cargo in the first half of 2026,
marking the highest first-half result in a decade, while Georgian
Railways also recorded its strongest H1 performance in 10
years.


According to the data of the country's Ministry of Economy,
cargo throughput at the country's seaports increased by 22%
year-on-year in H1 2026. Container handling reached 409,397 TEU, up
9% compared with the same period of 2025 and also a decade-high
figure. Georgian Railways transported 6.9 million tonnes of cargo
during the period, representing a 10% annual increase. In June
alone, railway container transportation reached 12,049 TEU, the
highest monthly result recorded over the past ten years.


Growth was registered across all major cargo categories and
transport directions, including import, export, transit and
domestic rail shipments. New cargo flows also emerged during the
period, including steel and various types of pipes, gold
concentrates, copper concentrates and new categories of liquid
cargo.


Trend's analysis
shows that the simultaneous record performance of both maritime and
rail transport indicates that Georgia's logistics sector is
experiencing broad-based growth rather than a temporary shift in
cargo flows. The increase across ports, railway transportation and
different cargo categories points to stronger integration of
Georgia into regional supply chains and growing demand for transit
capacity.


One of the key factors behind this trend is the continued
development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route
(TITR, or Middle Corridor), which connects Central Asia and China
with European markets through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Türkiye. The route has gained importance as countries seek to
diversify transport links and strengthen supply chain
resilience.


The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) told Trend
that the development of the Middle Corridor provides an opportunity
to strengthen trade links between Europe and Asia through improved
infrastructure, more efficient border procedures and deeper
regional cooperation.







"The development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport
Route, or Middle Corridor, offers a major opportunity to strengthen
trade links between Europe and Asia. By improving infrastructure,
streamlining border procedures and deepening regional cooperation,
countries along the route can help create more efficient, resilient
and sustainable trade routes," the OECD said.


The International Transport Forum (ITF) also noted that the
Middle Corridor is expected to retain strategic importance as a
diversified Asia-Europe transport route, while emphasizing that its
long-term competitiveness will depend on addressing operational
bottlenecks. "The Middle Corridor would nevertheless retain
strategic value as a diversified Asia–Europe route that avoids both
Russia and Iran. It will continue to benefit from strong political
and investment support for Eurasian connectivity," ITF told
Trend.


For Georgia, the growing role of the Middle Corridor creates
additional opportunities to strengthen its position as a transit
hub linking the Caspian region with Black Sea ports and European
markets. The country's ports, rail network and logistics
infrastructure represent a critical segment of the route, where
improvements in handling capacity and operational efficiency
directly affect the overall competitiveness of the corridor.


The emergence of new cargo categories also contributed to the H1
results. Gold and copper concentrates are particularly significant,
as Georgia's mining sector has expanded production capacity and
increased export activity. Unlike temporary transit flows, these
commodities represent additional cargo volumes generated by
domestic economic activity. The increase in containerized rail
transportation is another important indicator for the Middle
Corridor. The June record of 12,049 TEU reflects growing use of
intermodal solutions connecting maritime arrivals at Georgian ports
with onward rail transportation toward Türkiye and European
destinations.


In Trend's
assessment, the latest figures suggest that Georgia's transport
infrastructure is moving from a traditional transit role toward a
more integrated logistics model, where ports, railways and regional
corridors operate as interconnected components of Eurasian trade
networks. Maintaining this momentum will depend on continued
investment in infrastructure, digitalization and coordination among
countries along the route.