Uzbekistan has launched a new multimodal logistics corridor connecting Central Asian exporters directly to Mediterranean ports, cutting through the traditional complexity of east-west shipping routes. State-owned Uztemirjulcontainer has activated container services from the Sergeli logistics hub straight to Italian, Greek, and Bulgarian seaports via the increasingly significant CASCA+ corridor.
The route channels cargo through Georgia’s Poti port, then fans out to Burgas in Bulgaria, Piraeus in Greece, and Italy’s Naples and La Spezia. The entire journey clocks in at 25 to 30 days — a competitive timeline that puts Central Asian goods within reliable reach of European markets.
Alternative trade pathway emerges
The CASCA+ network spans Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Turkey’s Anatolian region, offering an alternative to congested or politically sensitive northern routes. The inaugural shipment of 39 forty-foot containers marks the transition from planning to operational reality, demonstrating that the corridor can handle commercial volumes.
This isn’t just about one shipment. By establishing predictable container services on this route, Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a serious logistics player in the region, not merely a landlocked endpoint. The move opens possibilities for varied cargo types from Central Asian production centers to flow toward European consumers.
Business implications for manufacturers
For furniture manufacturers, construction material producers, textile companies, and home appliance makers eyeing Central Asia, this development changes the logistics equation. Previously, reaching European markets from Uzbekistan meant wrestling with longer routes or less predictable schedules. Now there’s a defined pathway with established transit times to major Mediterranean ports.
Companies already producing in Uzbekistan gain flexibility in their distribution strategies. Those considering investment can factor in improved connectivity when evaluating production locations. And crucially, the infrastructure development signals that Uzbekistan is actively addressing one of the classic Central Asian challenges: getting goods to global markets efficiently.
Beyond individual businesses, this corridor matters for the broader integration of Central Asian manufacturing into international supply chains. Reliable logistics infrastructure attracts investment, encourages export-oriented production, and ultimately contributes to the economic sophistication of the region — factors that matter significantly when international companies assess whether Central Asia can serve as a viable production and export base.
