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NAVIGATORSEA LAND

Corridors & Network

Middle Corridor (TITR)

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route: rail across Kazakhstan, a Caspian crossing to Azerbaijan, and rail or road through Georgia to Türkiye and Europe.

Request a QuoteAll Corridors
Route
China → Kazakhstan → Aktau / Kuryk → Caspian → Baku / Alat → Georgia → Türkiye / Black Sea → Europe
Best for
China–Europe cargo avoiding northern routes; Europe → Central Asia project cargo
Border points & gateways
Khorgos / DostykAktau / Kuryk portsBaku / AlatGeorgia (Tbilisi, Poti, Batumi)Kars / Istanbul (Türkiye)
Transit time
Transit-time ranges are published for each corridor only after internal validation, because corridor performance changes frequently. Ask us for the current range for your routing.
Navigator Sea Land corridor network mapSchematic map of Eurasia from Europe to eastern China showing the freight corridors Navigator Sea Land operates, with offices in Almaty and Atyrau. China Land Bridge: Shanghai – Xi'an – Lianyungang – Urumqi – Khorgos / Altynkol – Almaty – Saryagash – Tashkent – Dostyk / Alashankou – Astana. Middle Corridor (TITR): Xi'an – Urumqi – Dostyk / Alashankou – Astana – Aktau – Kuryk – Baku / Alat – Tbilisi – Poti / Batumi – Istanbul – Europe – Mersin. INSTC: Mundra / Nhava Sheva – Bandar Abbas – Jebel Ali – Tehran – Anzali – Aktau – Turkmenbashi – Bolashak – Atyrau. Caspian Sea: Aktau – Baku / Alat – Kuryk – Turkmenbashi – Atyrau – Tengiz. Europe & Türkiye: Europe – Istanbul – Tbilisi – Baku / Alat – Poti / Batumi – Astana. Air links: Europe to Almaty and Jebel Ali to Atyrau.Caspian SeaBlack SeaPersian Gulf / Arabian SeaMediterraneanAlmatyAtyrauAstanaAktauKurykTengizBolashakSaryagashTashkentBishkekKhorgos / AltynkolDostyk / AlashankouBaku / AlatTurkmenbashiAnzaliTehranTbilisiPoti / BatumiIstanbulMersinEuropeUrumqiXi'anLianyungangTianjinShanghaiMundra / Nhava ShevaBandar AbbasJebel Ali
  • Rail
  • Road
  • Sea / Caspian
  • Air (dashed)
  • Office
  • Port
  • Border crossing

The Route

The Middle Corridor runs from China through Kazakhstan to the Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk, crosses by rail ferry or ro-ro to Baku / Alat in Azerbaijan, and continues by rail through Georgia to the Black Sea ports of Poti and Batumi or overland to Türkiye and Europe. In the opposite direction it is the natural route for European and Turkish project equipment bound for western Kazakhstan.

Its advantage is that it avoids the northern route entirely. Its difficulty is the Caspian crossing: vessel capacity is finite, sailings are weather-dependent, and an out-of-gauge piece competes for the same deck space as everything else. Planning the corridor means planning that crossing first and fitting the land legs around it.

Suitable Cargo

China–Europe containers

Block trains and single containers where the northern route is unavailable or undesirable.

European project cargo

Transformers, modules and machinery from European OEMs to Atyrau, Tengiz and the Caspian oil region.

Türkiye ↔ Central Asia

Road under TIR through Georgia and Azerbaijan, then Caspian ferry to Aktau or Kuryk.

Documentation

  • SMGS consignment notes on the Kazakh, Azerbaijani and Georgian railways; CMR and TIR for road legs.
  • Bills of lading or ferry waybills for the Caspian crossing; stowage and lashing approvals for OOG pieces.
  • Transit declarations in each country crossed; EAEU import formalities at Kazakh entry.

Advantages and Constraints

Middle Corridor advantages and constraints
AdvantagesConstraints
Avoids the northern route; politically and commercially resilient.Caspian vessel capacity and weather windows govern the schedule.
Serves western Kazakhstan directly from Europe and Türkiye.Multiple transshipments: rail–vessel–rail; each is a hand-over to manage.
Growing investment in port and rail capacity along the route.Peak demand periods produce queues at Aktau, Kuryk and Alat.

Services and Industries on This Corridor

Have a cargo others call impossible?

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