Freight flows are realigning around new trade routes, but borders remain the weakest link. IRU presented concrete measures to streamline freight flows along the increasingly important Middle Corridor at a major Turkic Week event in Vienna.
The Middle Corridor is responding to shifting global supply chains, geopolitical risks and the demand for resilient land routes. Since 2022, many logistics actors have turned to the Middle Corridor as a viable alternative to traditional maritime routes.
Trade along the Middle Corridor is also evolving. Once dominated by raw materials such as petroleum and minerals, it is now rapidly shifting to container traffic, which has more than tripled in the past 12 months. Over 60% of container traffic consists of Chinese goods bound for Europe.
Speaking at a Turkic Week event in Vienna organised by the Organization of Turkic States and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto said, “Trade along the Middle Corridor is rapidly growing, with freight volumes expected to triple by 2030.
“However, without enhancements to the corridor, including border-crossing procedures, demand for transport is forecast to fall 35% short of the expected growth.“We are working to strengthen the Middle Corridor, which requires facilitation, predictability and cooperation.” (....)