With a new office in Tbilisi, logistics service provider Rhenus is strengthening its presence along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, also known as the “Middle Corridor”. The company is now represented in all key countries along this route—from Turkey via Georgia and Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
“With our strategy, we are pursuing the goal of connecting Europe and Asia reliably and sustainably via the Trans-Caspian transport route,” explains Andreas Stöckli, a member of the Executive Board of the Rhenus Group.
What is crucial, he says, is a continuous presence across all countries involved.
The Middle Corridor as an alternative Eurasian route
The so-called Middle Corridor connects China and Southeast Asia with Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Unlike the northern overland routes, this connection runs entirely outside Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
Source: International Association “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route”
Against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the route is attracting growing attention. The industry is increasingly viewing it as an additional option for traffic between Europe and Asia.
Rhenus closes operational gaps
With the site in Tbilisi, Rhenus is deliberately expanding its operational coverage along the corridor. The office serves as a regional hub for multimodal transport, linking road, rail and sea freight. The office serves as a regional hub for multimodal transport, linking road, rail and sea freight.
As early as the beginning of 2026, the company expanded its activities in Central Asia by acquiring a terminal near Almaty in Kazakhstan. The aim is to be able to organise transport chains along the entire route from a single source.
For shippers, this primarily means tighter control of transport along a route shaped by multiple modes of transport and interfaces.
Transport volumes rise sharply
Developments along the corridor can also be tracked in the figures. Transport volumes on the Trans-Caspian route have increased significantly in recent years.
According to industry data, total volume in 2021 was still around 586,000 tonnes and had already reached approximately 1.87 million tonnes by 2025. Container traffic also shows clear momentum: from around 25,000 TEU in 2021 to just under 77,000 TEU in 2025.
Source: International Association “Trans-Caspian International Transport Route”
This development suggests that the corridor is increasingly being used in practice—albeit still at a lower level than established Eurasian connections.
Usage is rising – but structural hurdles remain
Despite the momentum, the Trans-Caspian corridor remains a smaller transport route compared to other Eurasian routes. Challenges arise primarily from the structure of the route: multiple transhipments, for example on the Caspian Sea, as well as differing processes across the countries involved, increase complexity.
At the same time, since the start of the war in Ukraine the route has been considered more often—especially for shipments with elevated geopolitical risk.
Competition along the Middle Corridor is intensifying
Rhenus is not alone in its expansion: other logistics companies are also stepping up their activities along the Middle Corridor. For example, Gebrüder Weiss has established additional connections to the South Caucasus.
In the industry, this development is seen as an indication that the route is increasingly being integrated into operational networks and gaining practical relevance.
With the site in Tbilisi, Rhenus is deliberately expanding its operational coverage along the corridor. The office serves as a regional hub for multimodal transport, linking road, rail and sea freight via ports.
Against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the route is attracting growing attention. The industry is increasingly viewing it as an additional option for traffic between Europe and Asia driven by trade.
