The Secretary General of the International Road Transport Union (IRU), Umberto de Pretto, stated at an event held in Vienna that trade among the countries along the Middle Corridor is growing rapidly and that freight volumes are expected to triple by 2030. However, he warned that unless border-crossing procedures are improved among corridor countries, transport demand could fall by as much as 35% compared to projected growth.
Since 2022, a number of logistics companies have turned to the Middle Corridor in search of alternative routes. This trend also had a positive impact on Georgia’s road segment: in 2022 alone, transit freight transport increased by 50%.
It was expected that this growth would continue in subsequent years. However, the reality turned out differently. Instead of maintaining upward momentum, transit freight traffic along Georgia’s section of the corridor began to decline.
The statistical data present the following picture:
• In 2023, 514,300 trucks transited through Georgia;
• In 2024 – 513,600 trucks;
• In 2025 – 489,500 trucks.
As a result, between 2023 and 2025, transit freight volumes along Georgia’s section of the corridor decreased by approximately 5%.
Transport companies and drivers identify prolonged border and customs procedures as one of the primary reasons for this decline. According to them, one of the most serious challenges along the entire length of the Middle Corridor remains the low capacity of border crossing points and the lengthy waiting times.
The IRU also assesses borders as the weakest link in the corridor. According to the organization, investments made in road infrastructure lose their effectiveness if trucks are forced to wait for days at border checkpoints.
Georgian drivers working in the sector describe the situation as a serious problem. After covering long distances and overcoming numerous challenges, they are required to spend additional days at borders, resulting in financial losses as well as physical and psychological strain.
The IRU emphasizes that simplifying and ensuring the predictability of border-crossing procedures is critical to the efficiency of the Middle Corridor. Despite declared political commitments among the countries involved, border checkpoints remain the most problematic component of the corridor.
According to IRU research, the key challenges include:
• Long waiting times for vehicles at borders and repeated inspections;
• Insufficient capacity at border crossing points;
• Limited ferry infrastructure across the Caspian Sea and increased time losses;
• Inadequate parking spaces near borders and poor rest conditions for drivers;
• Weak mutual recognition of inspection results among corridor countries.
According to the IRU President, the TIR system provides a globally recognized framework based on mutual recognition of customs control procedures, international guarantees, and the secure transport of sealed cargo. By reducing physical inspections, duplication of documentation, and operational uncertainty, TIR is particularly effective for transregional corridors such as the Middle Corridor.
In its concluding recommendation, the IRU stresses that existing bottlenecks at border crossings undermine the corridor’s reliability, increase costs, and reduce its competitiveness in the international transport market.
