International Container Transport In Commonwealth Of Independent States Grows 15.5%

The transport of goods in containers in international traffic throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) increased by 15.5% in 2024, to 72.3 million tonnes, according to Oleg Belozerov, Head of the Council and Head of Russian Railways.

Belozerov was speaking at a meeting of the Council on Railway Transport of the Commonwealth member States in Dushanbe. According to Russian Railways, more than 1.6 billion tonnes of cargo were transported in total. The CIS includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan is an associated member.

Belozerov stressed that the railway administrations are working to develop international transport corridors. It was decided to create a special strategic group within the Council in this area. Its tasks will be to coordinate flexible tariff conditions, digitalisation and improvement of transportation technology. Much attention is paid to the organisation of uninterrupted transit through the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

He noted a more than threefold increase in container shipments via the western route to Iran last year (more than 5,500 TEU were shipped) and more than twofold in the first 4 months of 2025 (3,500 TEU).

A significant increase in container traffic was also noted on the eastern route beyond Iran. In 4 months of 2025, the volume of container traffic increased 2.5 times and amounted to more than 1,300 TEU. This route leads to India.