ADY Container transports Uzbek fertilisers to Europe for the first time

Commencing from Uzbekistan, a blocktrain comprising 24 40-foot containers full of fertilisers reached the port of Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan. From there, the cargo was carried by a feeder vessel across the Caspian Sea to the Azerbaijani port of Alat. In Alat, rail took over again on the way to the Georgian port of Batumi. There, it was loaded to the ‘Rasul Rza’ feeder vessel heading for Constanta in Romania across the Black Sea.

ADY Container’s feeder vessel services in the Black Sea are organised jointly with the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO). They commenced to alleviate pressure on the Middle Corridor and contribute to better lead times between Europe and China. The first feeder service launched in late May, connecting the Georgian port of Poti and Constanta. The second started in late June, providing a connection between the port of Batumi and Constanta six times per month.

What makes this service special?

Understandably, it’s not the Black Sea feeder service that makes the headlines but the type and origin of the cargo. ADY Container’s vessels have been in the water for months now: however, it is the first time that they do not transport cargo coming from China.

Instead, the cargo originated from Uzbekistan, with a first service that could result in even more in the future. So why is this critical? Firstly, it seems that capacity issues in the Middle Corridor are improving since there was enough space to organise a dedicated service for Uzbek fertilisers. Secondly, the Middle Corridor could become a viable alternative for Central Asian cargo heading to Europe. Thirdly, the Middle Corridor could benefit from that because, in the future, it could survive without necessarily needing only Chinese shipments.

Nikos Papatolios