Kazak rail operator organizes pilot rice export to Belgium via TITR

ASTANA. Feb 18 (Interfax) - KTZ Express, a subsidiary of railway operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, has carried out a pilot export shipment of Kazakh broken rice to the port of Antwerp in Belgium along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the KTZ press service said.

"The transportation was organized in a multimodal format using railway infrastructure and sea lines across the Caspian and Black Seas," the statement said.

According to the press service, the logistics scheme was established along the route Kyzylorda - Aktau Port - Poti Port - Antwerp Port, sequentially using rail and sea connections. On the maritime section between the ports of Poti and Antwerp, transportation is carried out with the participation of the international shipping group CMA CGM Group.

Previously, cargo delivery in this direction was carried out mainly via the land route through the Semiglavy Mar border crossing, subsequently going through Brest, Duisburg, and Antwerp.

The company said using the TITR infrastructure made it possible to optimize logistics: the cost of transportation on the new route is lower compared to delivery via the Northern Corridor, with comparable transit times. The estimated transit duration is approximately 30 days.

KTZ Express, a transport and logistics company within KTZ, provides comprehensive solutions in the field of international cargo transportation, including multimodal routes, container transportation, warehouse services, and digital logistics platforms.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, connects China and Europe via the territory of Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.