Aktau: Japan funds a stationary X-ray system for large cargo as Japanese companies trial the Middle Corridor

Japan is assessing greater use of the Middle Corridor following trial shipments by Japanese companies. The results were presented on 19 October 2026 at a Tokyo conference on Japan's transport links with Central Asia and the Caucasus, The Times of Central Asia reported on 20 October.

The trials assessed delivery times and costs, customs procedures and logistics services. In parallel, Japan is funding customs upgrades at Kazakhstan's port of Aktau: a grant agreed in January of up to 719 million yen (about $4.5 million) covers a stationary X-ray inspection system for large cargo. The equipment is expected to reduce inspection times by two-thirds.

According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport, as cited by the outlet, the Middle Corridor handled 4.12 million tonnes of freight in 2025, and corridor transit times have fallen from 28–32 days to 13–17 days.

For project cargo via Aktau, faster inspection of large pieces means more predictable handoffs between the road, rail and sea legs to Baku and Alat. Gateway Logistics runs such schemes end to end: pre-carriage from Khorgos, 45 t / 5-axle and 90 t / 10-axle lowbeds, 145 m³ road-trains and ferry connections.

Source: The Times of Central Asia, 20 October 2026.