BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6.
The volume of container handling at the Baku port is expected to
reach 123,000 TEU by the end of this year, Advisor to the Director
of Baku International Sea Port LLC under the Azerbaijan Railways
CJSC, Khudayar Hasanli, told Trend
in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the
German-Azerbaijani Strategic Partnership and Connectivity
Conference held in Baku on Tuesday.


Hasanli said that the volume of container handling at the port
is currently approaching 100,000 TEU.


According to him, the volume of container handling is expected
to rise to the 130,000–140,000 TEU range next year. At the same
time, the port's existing throughput capacity allows for an
increase in volume up to 150,000 TEU.


"Expectations are above 130,000 TEU; it could be in the
130,000–140,000 TEU range. We also have the necessary throughput
capacity; an increase up to 150,000 TEU is possible," Hasanli
noted.


He pointed out that the exact volume of container shipments for
next year will depend on the situation along the Middle Corridor,
ongoing projects, and developments in other countries, including
Kazakhstan.


"This doesn’t depend solely on us. We need to see how the entire
corridor performs, what the situation looks like, and what stage
the projects are at by the end of the year. The situation in
Kazakhstan is also a significant factor," he emphasized.


Hasanli mentioned that work is underway to increase the Baku
port's container handling capacity to 260,000 TEU.


According to him, this work is expected to be fully completed in
the second half of next year.







"To reach the 260,000 TEU capacity, dredging operations are
being carried out at the port, and certain berths are undergoing
repair and reconstruction. New port equipment is also being
procured; one new crane has already been acquired, and another has
been ordered," he said.


He noted that the project also entails laying new railway lines
within the port area, establishing a new container yard, and
installing additional equipment. "We have a new berth, and plans
are in place to include it in a project to boost its capacity to
260,000 TEUs. Restoration and reconstruction work is currently
underway to adapt the berth for container handling. A new crane
will also be brought to the site," emphasized Hasanli.


According to him, once the renovation of the bridge, the
procurement of new cranes and other equipment, the laying of
railway lines, and the establishment of internal port connections
are completed, container handling capacity will reach 260,000
TEUs.


"The full completion of these works is expected around the
second half of next year," Hasanli added.


Hasanli announced that the next major stage in the development
of the Port of Baku is the second phase. During this stage, plans
are in place to increase the port's total cargo handling capacity
to 25 million tons and its container handling capacity to 500,000
TEUs.


"We are not carrying out the work for the second phase; this
process is being implemented by the Ministry of Digital Development
and Transport. A master plan and market study regarding this have
been prepared. Information on the subsequent stages will be
provided next year," he noted.


Hasanli added that the development of the Baku port is not
limited solely to increasing container shipments; the expansion of
infrastructure for various types of cargo is also being
considered.