The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and heightened tensions in the Middle East have increased demand for the Middle Corridor and freight transportation through Georgia, according to logistics companies. Anna Kakabadze, Head of the Maritime and Railway Department at SKYLOG, said demand has also increased from countries such as India and the United Arab Emirates.
Speaking on Saqmis Kursi, Kakabadze said several countries along the Middle Corridor, including Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, were not fully prepared for the increased cargo volumes. She identified delays at the Port of Aktau and longer cargo-processing times on Azerbaijan’s railway as key challenges affecting transit schedules.
According to Kakabadze, Azerbaijan previously processed and dispatched containers to Georgia within around two to three days, but the timeframe has now increased to 10-14 days. At the Port of Aktau, cargo volumes have reportedly reached two to three times the levels the railway system had been regularly handling, creating significant congestion.
As a result, the overall transit time for cargo from China to Georgia has increased substantially. While shipments previously took around 16-17 days, the current transit time has risen to approximately 40-45 days. Kakabadze added that preparations for the New Year season are also contributing to higher cargo volumes and demand.
