The heads of the ports of Turkmenbashi, Baku, Aktau, Kuryk, Poti, and Batumi discussed expanding cooperation and developing a unified transport and logistics space between the Caspian and Black Seas in Baku. The meeting took place on September 9–10 as part of the Conference of Heads of Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The main focus of the talks was improving coordination between the ports and accelerating cargo flows along the Middle Corridor, Orient.tm reported.
The growth of cargo traffic through the Port of Baku is of particular importance for Turkmenistan. According to preliminary data for the first eight months of 2026, cargo turnover between the Port of Baku and the ports of Turkmenistan increased by 34.6% compared to the same period last year. By comparison, cargo turnover between Baku and the ports of Kazakhstan increased by 6%. Overall, cargo traffic along the Middle Corridor increased by 11% from January to August, reaching 53,574 TEU.
The meeting participants discussed eliminating logistical barriers, increasing the speed and predictability of shipments, digitalizing port procedures, and developing more institutionalized cooperation. Particular attention was paid to environmental technologies and the concept of "green ports."
This cooperation is of strategic importance to Turkmenistan. The country has traditionally focused on energy exports, but the development of international transport transit allows Ashgabat to gradually expand its sources of revenue and strengthen its role in the regional economy.
The 34.6% increase in cargo turnover with Baku demonstrates that the port of Turkmenbashi is becoming an increasingly important link in the Middle Corridor. Through it, Turkmenistan is able to connect Central Asia with Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, Turkey, and European markets. The port is already used for transit shipments, including between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
The importance of this meeting also lies in the transition from competition between individual ports to their coordination. This is especially important for Turkmenistan: the efficiency of a transit route is determined not only by the capacity of a single port, but also by the speed of cargo handling along the entire route—from Central Asia through the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan to the Black Sea and Europe.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
September 11, 2026