APM Terminals Poti in Georgia aims to offer an intermodal gateway for an end-to-end transport solution connecting global producers to Central Asian markets.
In particular, a new ocean-rail route, launched by Maersk, promises to overcome the complexities of multiple modal changes between rail and sea in the region.
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.
Additionally, Maersk in order to ensure seamless and reliable logistics, has established last mile connections in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan through a dedicated trucking pool.
Earlier this year CMA CGM launched a new Caucasus Georgia Express (CGX) service which takes full advantage of the Poti port’s location.
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 commented, “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.”
He added, “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 US$250 billion economy, the opportunities for cargo growth over Poti are enormous.”
