The Port of Hamburg and Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening freight flows along the Middle Corridor, improving connectivity between Europe and Asia.
The partnership is expected to support the development of more efficient rail and multimodal transport links connecting the European market with Central Asia and China via Azerbaijan.
The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, runs from China and Central Asia through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye before reaching European markets. It has gained importance as businesses and logistics operators seek to diversify Eurasian supply chains.
Under the agreement, the Port of Hamburg and ADY will explore opportunities to improve cargo flows, strengthen logistics cooperation and develop more efficient transport solutions along the route.
For the Port of Hamburg, greater integration with the Middle Corridor could expand its role as a gateway for cargo moving between Europe and Central Asian markets. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, serves as a key transit hub linking rail networks on both sides of the Caspian Sea.
The partnership comes amid growing investment in infrastructure and logistics capacity along the Middle Corridor. Improvements in rail connectivity, port operations and intermodal links are intended to make the route more competitive for international freight.
The cooperation could particularly support containerised cargo, transit shipments and multimodal freight, while providing businesses with additional options for moving goods between Europe and Asia.
The agreement between Hamburg and ADY marks another step towards strengthening the Middle Corridor as an alternative Eurasian freight route and expanding trade connectivity between European and Central Asian markets.