Market note · November 2026

Poti to BTK: an EU-backed plan to open the Middle Corridor to smaller shippers

A new study supported by the EU and UNDP proposes a pilot intermodal freight service between Georgia’s Black Sea ports and the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, aimed at the companies that pay most to move goods.

The numbers

What was proposed

The study, prepared by Georgian research company ACT with support from the European Union and UNDP, recommends a pilot freight service connecting the Port of Poti with the BTK railway. The model is a small intermodal terminal at Poti or Batumi, container trains on BTK, and timetables aligned with vessel calls. Georgian Railway is named as the likely lead implementer, with the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development as a possible coordinator.

Why it matters

Most Middle Corridor discussion focuses on transit volumes. This study looks at access: small and mid-sized Georgian firms face a cost penalty of 20–40% per tonne. Short-term (0–12 months) measures include a digital platform connecting cargo owners with carriers. The timing is supportive: exports grew 19.6% in the first nine months of 2026, with September a record for that month.

What it means for investors

• Terminals and warehousing. Demand for intermodal terminals, consolidation hubs and bonded warehousing near Poti and Batumi.
• Logistics services. Freight forwarding and digital logistics platforms serving SME exporters.
• Trade finance. Trade and receivables finance for mid-sized shippers as volumes formalise.
• Real estate. Logistics-linked property along the Poti–Tbilisi axis.

The risks

The service is a proposal, not a funded project; timing and financing are not yet set. Rail capacity, tariffs and coordination with Azerbaijani and Turkish operators will decide its economics. Regional transit flows remain sensitive to external shocks.

How we help

K+A Consulting advises investors and traders on logistics and infrastructure entry in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan: market sizing, partner and asset search, structuring, and access to bank and trade finance.

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Information current as of November 2026; not investment, legal or tax advice.