First rice export via Aktau, Poti and Antwerp ports

2026-02-20

KAZAKHSTAN TEMIRK ZHOLY (KTZ) subsidiary KTZ Express has carried out a [pilot] export of a batch of Kazakh broken rice to the Belgian Port of Antwerp. The delivery was made using the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the so-called middle corridor.

The transportation was carried out in a multimodal format — in the direction of the Caspian and Black Seas, using a combination of railway and sea transportation.

The logistics chain included the following route: Kyzylorda – Aktau port – Poti port – Antwerp port.

Previously, cargo in this direction was mainly transported by land, through Russia, and after crossing the Semiglav border checkpoint, transit continued in the direction of Brest and Duisburg.

The cost of transportation along the new route is lower compared to the Northern Corridor, while maintaining the speed of delivery. The estimated duration of cargo transit is about 30 days.

The Middle Corridor is a transport and trade route that connects Asia with Europe and creates an alternative to the traditional northern and southern corridors. The route begins in China, passes through the countries of Central Asia — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan — then crosses the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and finally reaches Europe.

Info: europetime.eu