BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 21. Interest in the
Middle Corridor’s future use remains significant, reads the EU
Business Climate Report Azerbaijan 2025/26.


The report reveals that around 25.4% of respondents report that
they have already used the corridor for trade or logistics and plan
to continue using it. A further 23.9% of respondents have not yet
used the Middle Corridor but are considering doing so within the
next two to three years, indicating potential for future growth in
demand. At the same time, 32.8% have not used the corridor and
currently have no plans to do so, while 17.9% remain unsure or have
no opinion.


“The comparison with the 2024 results suggests that actual use
of the Middle Corridor increased between the two survey rounds,
while interest in its future use remains significant. At the same
time, both the 2024 and 2025/26 survey results indicate that
further improvements in efficiency, capacity, connectivity and
coordination remain important for strengthening the corridor's
competitiveness,” reads the report.


The authors of the report note that the transport sector plays
an increasingly important role in the Azerbaijani economy, with a
7.1% share of GDP in 2025.


“The country expanded its role as a growing transit hub between
Europe and Asia due to its important position at the Trans-Caspian
(Middle) Corridor. Transit cargo makes up nearly half of the rail
and road freight and over 95% of maritime cargo in Azerbaijan.
Advancing the Zangezur (TRIPP) route will further enhance the
сapacity of the Middle Corridor. Recent geopolitical dynamics and
the infrastructure advancements triggered the growth of cargo
transit through Azerbaijan. The border capacity of the country
expanded to 4,100 vehicles/day in each direction,” says the
report.







The authors point out that with a capacity of 15 million tons
and 150,000 TEUs in 2025, the Middle Corridor plays a vital role in
supporting regional trade.


“The target capacity for the Corridor in 2030 is 18.8 million
tons. The infrastructure enhancements in the rail, ports, roads,
airports, and digital systems enabled the Middle Corridor to offer
a faster transit option between Europe and China/Central Asia. As a
result, the China-Europe transit has been completed in as little as
11 days. The sustained momentum underlines the need for new
terminals, more wagons, and improved Caspian ferry capacity to
prevent bottlenecks on the Middle Corridor. Interviewees emphasize
the need for the EU to take a more proactive role in supporting the
development of the Middle Corridor, drawing on the freight-transit
expertise and experience of its member states, particularly the
newer members,” the report says.


The Middle Corridor is a multimodal trade and transport route
connecting Asia and Europe through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea,
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye. The route begins in China and runs
through Central Asia before crossing the Caspian Sea and continuing
through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye to European markets.


The Middle Corridor is being developed as an alternative to
traditional northern and southern transport routes, providing
connectivity between Asian markets, including China, and Europe.
The World Bank says targeted investments and reforms along the
corridor could significantly increase trade volumes and reduce
travel times by 2040.