The Eastern Route of the North-South Corridor Through Turkmenistan Has Seen a Twofold Increase in Freight Traffic
Geopolitical and economic realities in Eurasia have accelerated the development of the North-South International Transport Corridor (ISTC). Its eastern branch, running through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, has demonstrated the most impressive growth. This was stated by Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin in an interview with TASS on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
According to the Russian Transport Minister, in the first four months of 2026, exports to Iran via the North-South ITC increased by more than 56% compared to the same period last year, while total freight traffic along the corridor increased by 87%. Moreover, the Trans-Caspian route through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, actively developed by Ashgabat and Astana, demonstrated the most significant growth, with a record 98% increase, effectively doubling previous figures.
The minister particularly emphasized the logistical advantages of this corridor: cargo delivery from the Baltic region to South Asia now takes only 15-20 days. This is twice as fast as the traditional sea route through the Suez Canal, making Turkmenistan's transit capabilities critical for continental trade.
Overall, the recent SPIEF, which brought together representatives from 142 countries and resulted in the signing of over a thousand agreements, clearly confirmed the international community's demand for pragmatic dialogue. And a key part of this dialogue is the creation of new, secure, and highly efficient transport arteries in Central Asia.
