Searching for the most sustainable links
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is currently conducting a study to identify the most sustainable transport connections between the Central Asian economies and the extended Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
Until recently, the main route linking Northeast Asia with Europe was the Eurasian Northern corridor through Russia. The middle or Trans-Caspian corridor through Kazakhstan is generally considered the second-best overland option.
In Q1/2022, close to 20,000 teu travelled through Kazakhstan to the Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk on this route. First interim findings indicate that, should this corridor become the preferred new route for freight companies, existing Caspian Sea infrastructure may not be able to deal with the increase in traffic and cause real bottlenecks. (ben)