German logistics group Rhenus plans up to 14 terminals along the Middle Corridor

German logistics company Rhenus Group is planning to establish up to 14 terminals along the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). This expansion will be located in Aktau, a new trimodal container terminal. For European businesses, this development offers increased capacity and more dependable transport links for Asian suppliers and markets.

The European Commission has earmarked up to €12 billion in public and private investment for the Middle Corridor, aiming for a threefold increase in trade flows and reduced freight transit times by 2030. Rhenus is collaborating with Kazakhstan’s national railway operator (KTZ) and Aktau Port to develop a multimodal logistics hub on the Caspian Sea.

CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Rhenus Group, Tobias Bartz, confirmed that the company aims to build 14 terminals along the Middle Corridor, stretching from Uzbekistan through Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to Turkey, with these terminals connected to Rhenus’ existing European network of 23 container ports and over 70 port facilities.

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration, freight traffic on the Trans-Caspian route rose by up to 62%, and container traffic surged by 2.7 times, totaling 56,500 TEU between 2025 and 2025. The projected terminal will merge sea, rail, and road transport, cover at least 30 hectares, and add an annual handling capacity of at least 150,000 TEU, nearly double the corridor’s reported container traffic in 2025.

The project is currently advancing to a phase involving a traffic-flow analysis and a feasibility study. Bartz emphasized that Kazakhstan plays a pivotal role in connecting China, Central Asia, the Caspian region, and Europe, making the upcoming joint steps with partners crucial components of Rhenus’ long-term dedication to the region.

Rhenus Group’s presence in Central Asia extends beyond this project, as it recently acquired a rail terminal in the Almaty region in January 2026, offering container storage, bonded warehousing, and block-train handling. Rhenus also plans to invest around €11 million in upgrading a terminal in Andijan, Uzbekistan, which is expected to handle around 200,000 TEU a year.