Azerbaijan: nine-month 2026 transit tops 12 Mt, port container handling at 100,000 TEU (+29%)

Transit cargo through Azerbaijan exceeded 12 Mt in January–September 2026, 14.5% more than a year earlier and the highest level in five years. The figures from Azerbaijan's Ministry of Digital Development and Transport were reported by APA on 20 October and analysed by Caucasus Business Journal on 24 October.

East–West transit rose 20.2% and North–South transit 19.0%. Ports grew faster: container handling increased 29% to 100,000 TEU and dry cargo handling 71% to 1.73 Mt.

According to the ministry, the annual container capacity of the Baku International Sea Trade Port has risen from 100,000 to 160,000 TEU, and vessel handling time has fallen from about 20 hours to 4–5 hours. The port's cargo capacity of 15 Mt a year is planned to rise to 25 Mt and 500,000 TEU under the current expansion.

For project cargo on the Middle Corridor this means more capacity on the Azerbaijani leg. Gateway Logistics builds such chains end to end: Khorgos, the road leg across Kazakhstan on 45 t / 5-axle and 90 t / 10-axle lowbeds and 145 m³ road-trains, the Caspian ferry and delivery to sites in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye.

Source: Caucasus Business Journal, 24 October 2026.