A new Jinhua–Baku Trans-Caspian route launched in June 2025 links rail transport with a sea crossing from Turkmenbashi. It adds a routing option for China–Azerbaijan trade, with coordination between rail services, ports and vessel schedules central to cross-border delivery planning.
On 18 June 2025, the first train on the Jinhua–Turkmenbashi–Baku route of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor departed from Jinhua South railway station in Zhejiang. According to Xinhua, the train carried 100 TEU of goods including daily necessities, clothing and hardware components. The published route exits China through Khorgos, passes through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and crosses the Caspian Sea from Turkmenbashi port to Baku, Azerbaijan.
The route combines rail and sea transport, supplementing the existing Trans-Caspian routing through Aktau port in Kazakhstan. In a report from Baku on 9 September 2025, Xinhua noted that Zhejiang’s Trans-Caspian China–Europe freight service was marking its fifth anniversary, with its 237th train arriving at the Absheron Logistics Centre. The development of the new route alongside existing corridors reflects the continuing growth of logistics links between China and Azerbaijan.
For supply chain planning, additional routes allow exporters to compare options according to their cargo consolidation location in China, delivery window and overseas receiving arrangements. For daily necessities, clothing, industrial components and other goods, the combination of rail freight and a Caspian Sea crossing offers an option to assess when connecting Chinese production with the Baku market.
When planning shipments, businesses should coordinate rail departures, port transshipment, Caspian vessel schedules and cargo collection in Baku as one continuous chain. They should also check whether quotations include transfer handling, destination charges and last-mile delivery. Where cargo will continue beyond Baku, transit procedures and import requirements at the final destination should be confirmed separately. The practical value of the new route ultimately depends on how well each connection meets the shipment’s delivery needs.
Sources
1. Xinhua: Zhejiang Opens Its 26th China–Europe Freight Train Logistics Route | 2025-06-18
2. Xinhua: Azerbaijani Official Calls for More China–Europe Freight Trains Through Azerbaijan | 2025-09-10