In the container yard of Lianyungang Port, the last batch of container reinforcement for the Trans Caspian Sea train bound for Baku is being completed. The Baku International Port on the other side of the Eurasian continent has received real-time shipping data for this train in advance.

At the International Conference on Port Interconnection under the framework of the AsiaInfo Conference, Lianyungang Port, Azerbaijan Railway Company, and Baku Port officially announced their cooperation upgrade plan. A cross Caspian logistics data chain covering the core hubs of China, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan is about to be implemented in actual operational scenarios. In the first seven months of 2026, the container transfer volume across the Caspian Sea increased by 18% year-on-year. This former transit channel is growing into the most efficient land sea intermodal artery between Asia and Europe.

Cross Caspian container shipping volume doubles in three years

The container transfer volume of the trans Caspian international transportation route through Aktau Port has skyrocketed from 16400 TEUs in 2023 to 65300 TEUs in 2025, achieving nearly triple growth in three years. The transportation volume from January to July 2026 has reached 41800 TEUs, with a steady year-on-year growth rate of 18%. The cargo structure along the channel has gradually expanded from ordinary department stores and mechanical equipment to high value-added categories such as electronic products and new energy components. The transportation efficiency of the entire process has been reduced by nearly 20% compared to 2023, and the market attractiveness continues to increase.

Four country hub jointly builds logistics data chain

On the premise of complying with data security and national laws and regulations, Lianyungang Port will cooperate with Azerbaijan Railway Corporation, Baku Port and other partners to build a trans Caspian logistics data chain connecting the four core nodes of Lianyungang, Khorgos, Aktau and Baku.

The project will take the lead in the field of transportation data exchange, gradually realizing real-time sharing of information such as train dynamics, port yard status, and ship schedules, completely breaking down information barriers between different national hubs, significantly reducing the waiting time of goods at the port, and promoting the operational efficiency of the entire channel to a higher level.

Starting from Lianyungang on the coast of the Yellow Sea, crossing railways, ports, and Caspian Sea ports, and finally arriving in Europe, this constantly upgrading trans Caspian logistics channel is using digital links to more closely connect industrial clusters at both ends of the Eurasian continent.Editor/Cheng Liting