Baku International Sea Trade Port in Azerbaijan plans to expand its infrastructure over the next three to five years under a project that will also include the construction of new container and mineral-fertiliser terminals.
Khudayar Hasanli, an adviser to the port’s general director, said that the expansion programme will also upgrade railway infrastructure, warehouses, and terminal complexes. Additional railway lines and parking areas are planned, and a new container handling terminal will form the central component of the next expansion phase.
“Over the past few years, we have recorded a noticeable increase in freight volumes along this corridor, largely due to the current geopolitical situation,” Hasanli said.
The port can handle up to 15 million tonnes of cargo per year and 100,000 TEUs. Hasanli expects container capacity will be increased to 260,000 TEUs in the foreseeable future.
Hasanli said that once the second phase is complete, the port is expected to have an annual cargo capacity of 25 million tonnes and a container capacity of 500,000 TEUs. He also forecast container transshipment exceeding 120,000 TEUs by the end of 2026.
“We are interested in major operators from Europe and China not only using the route, but also investing in its development,” Hasanli said.
Azerbaijan’s Centre for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication reported that Baku Port recorded cargo volumes exceeding 5.5 million tonnes and 85,000 TEUs in the first eight months of 2026.
Container throughput rose 22 per cent year-on-year, while dry cargo handling increased 80 per cent to 1.6 million tonnes.