APM Terminals Poti, Georgia, will be the main intermodal gateway for an end-to-end transport solution connecting global producers to Central Asian markets. A new ocean-rail route, launched by Maersk, will overcome the complexities of multiple modal changes between rail and sea in the region.

Commenting on Poti and the Black Sea’s status as a gateway for containerised cargo to and from Central Asia, Iain Rawlinson, CCO of APM Terminals Poti said, “Opportunities for Poti and Georgia are driven by the port’s location at the Western end of the Central Asian/Caucasian rail network connecting Asia with Europe through the Middle Corridor. This is a trade which is in its infancy, but with a container penetration rate estimated at less than five per cent of the potential market, and a 250 billion USD economy, the opportunities for cargo growth over Poti are enormous.”

Overcoming complexity

Cargo arriving by ocean at APM Terminals Poti will be seamlessly transported via rail to Baku in Azerbaijan. Subsequently, the journey continues from Baku across the Caspian Sea to Aktau. Finally, the cargo is delivered from there to its ultimate destinations in Central Asia such as Almaty, Astana, Tashkent via an efficient train network.

Last mile delivery

To ensure seamless and reliable logistics, Maersk has established last mile connections in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan through a dedicated trucking pool. This strategic approach enables efficient and secure delivery to the final destination, minimizing delays and enhancing customer satisfaction.

The transport solution is further bolstered by a dedicated control tower team, responsible for overseeing and managing the entire operations process. This team ensures a streamlined and coordinated approach to handling cargo, providing real-time updates, and addressing any potential issues that may arise along the journey.

Intermodal Hub

Earlier this year CMA CGM launched a new Caucasus Georgia Express (CGX) service which takes full advantage of the Port’s strategic location. APM Terminals Poti works as a hub for cargo consolidation and dispatch, connecting trains directly from the Middle Corridor to Georgia, for onward maritime transport to and from Greece and Turkey.

The new CGX maritime service transports cargo from APM Terminals Poti to Piraeus, Greece and Ambarli Port in Istanbul, Turkey within three and seven days respectively. The service makes approximately three roundtrips a month.

In addition to unlocking the vibrant and growing Central Asia market, the APM Terminals Poti hub connects regular trains, from China – via either Kazakhstan or Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan – to this new maritime service to reach Turkey.

This provides a feasible alternative to traditional routes currently blocked by Russian sanctions.