A project of commissioning of a container train via the Poti-Baku-Aktau-Almaty route will be profitable only in case the cargo deliverers are interested in it. For the time being there is not cargo in our direction and the route can be profitable if is extended to China. China took interests, while it remained on the level of declarations, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan announced.
Perhaps, delivery from Poti will occur to late this September, but it is not the final, as everything depends on Georgia and its preparedness. There is a problem with cargo deliverers. As to cargo, it will be comprised of consumer goods from Turkey and construction materials, the Ministry said.
China is very interested in the project, as it is a major source of container cargo in Asia. China made an inquiry and received terms of functioning of the train.
At present Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan are considering the issue on expansion of the route of the demonstration container train to the Dostik station in the border with Kazakhstan and China. A unified tariff of 22 cents per ton/km is applied in the transportation.
The container train was commissioned on 24 December 2006. The train should promote the attraction of cargo deliverers from China and Europe. The cargo is delivered from Poti port in Georgia to the Aktau port in Kazakhstan and reverse.
Experts note that at present only around 3% - 4% of total container cargo flow functioning from Europe to Asia and reverse pass via Russia because of the price damping price policy. IT comprises approximately 150,000 containers a year. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia intend to attract part of cargo for transportation via TRACECA corridor.