Uzbekistan plans to launch national ferry service in Caspian Sea

Speaking in an interview with Uzbekistan 24 TV channel, Mahkamov emphasized the country's intent to expedite foreign trade shipments by operating its own ferries across the Caspian Sea.

According to the minister, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's recent visit to Azerbaijan holds significant importance not only for strengthening economic and trade ties but also for enhancing transport and logistics cooperation.

"Today, one of the key routes for freight transport from Uzbekistan – especially for import-export trade and heavy cargo – runs through Azerbaijan. This is the Middle Corridor," Mahkamov noted.

He added that thanks to the presidential visit, Uzbekistan has managed to secure an extension of preferential tariffs on container rail transportation through Azerbaijan until the end of next year. “Due to the visit of our esteemed president, we have extended up to 70% discounts on container and rail transport until 2026,” he stated.

Mahkamov also announced that Uzbekistan is preparing to launch its own ferries in the Caspian Sea to reduce cargo delays:

"Given the increasing volume of cargo transported via the Caspian Sea, and the fact that ferries often face waiting times of 30 to 40 days, causing delivery delays, we are actively negotiating with ferry operators. As a result, Uzbek companies, in collaboration with Turkish partners, have decided to operate ferries in the Caspian Sea."

The minister further highlighted that the implementation of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway project would generate additional transit volumes between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. “We’ve already reached agreements on expanding and modernizing infrastructure – we’re ready for this,” he added.

At the end of August last year, the President of Azerbaijan had also proposed enhancing cooperation in maritime cargo transport, especially in the context of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway construction.

“In one of our earlier meetings, I informed President Shavkat Mirziyoyev that we are increasingly expanding towards the Black Sea region. We have acquired four Aframax tankers in addition to the ships we already operate there. So if you are interested in this direction in the future, we can work together in Black Sea freight transport. The volume of orders is very high, and the challenges of the Black Sea basin are now well understood. There’s definitely room for cooperation there,” said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The two countries are also discussing the possibility of establishing a joint logistics company within the framework of the Trans-Caspian Corridor, and building warehouses and logistics hubs in Baku and ports of third countries.