Xi'an is our home base and the busiest departure for Baku. Cargo exits at Khorgos or Alashankou, crosses Kazakhstan, and reaches Azerbaijan on the Trans-Caspian rail-sea-rail corridor — no transit through Russia. Indicative transit is 20–25 days to Baku, and our own 6,000 m² warehouse sits inside the Xi'an terminal area.
Cargo to Baku leaves Xi'an at Khorgos or Alashankou, runs across Kazakhstan to the Caspian port of Aktau, crosses by container ship or ferry to Alat / Baku, and finishes on Azerbaijani rail. Because the route stays south of Russia, it is the corridor many shippers choose when they must avoid Russia transit. Transit is 20–25 days door to door.
Baku is oil-and-gas country, and this lane carries a lot of it: oil line pipe, oilfield machinery, PV modules and steel coil. That means stowage, securing and axle-weight planning matter as much as the rate — a stack plan that works on a European lane can overrun the per-container limit on a heavier industrial load.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lane | Xi'an → Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Corridor | Trans-Caspian rail-sea-rail (no Russia transit) |
| Exit border | Khorgos / Alashankou |
| Caspian crossing | Aktau → Alat / Baku |
| Transit | 20–25 days door to door |
| Gauge | Standard to broad at China–Kazakhstan; Baku is broad gauge to the Georgian border |
| Equipment | 20GP / 40GP / 40HQ; flat-rack and open-top for heavy or out-of-gauge cargo |
| Alternative | Part-loads: Xi'an to Baku LCL, 1–2 fixed departures weekly |
The route is China → Kazakhstan → Caspian → Azerbaijan, with no leg through Russia. That is its whole point for many buyers right now.
The Caspian sailing is the swing factor. Where a vessel connection is tight, the gap between the fastest and slowest crossings widens the door-to-door figure. We state the connection we expect that week at booking.
| Commodity | What to plan for |
|---|---|
| Oil line pipe | Heavy and long. Per-container weight calculation and a stowage plan are essential; the border will order a restuff if the limit is exceeded. |
| Oilfield machinery | Load to the centre of gravity and the lifting points. Overweight or out-of-gauge pieces need flat-rack, open-top or a rail flat assessed. |
| PV modules | Fragile and high value. Moisture-protected pallets, a stack-height limit and securing against shift; keep loading photos as the claim file. |
| Steel coil | Very heavy. Axle-weight and floor-loading limits decide the loading plan, and securing against roll is the main risk. |
| Auto parts and general trade goods | FCL or LCL consolidation. Carton strength and stack height matter, because the container is lifted at gauge change and again at the Caspian crossing. |
Dangerous goods, battery products and out-of-gauge pieces are assessed before booking. Send the description and HS code with the enquiry.
| Cost item | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Xi'an domestic leg | Pickup, stuffing and lashing, export declaration, terminal charges |
| Linehaul to Aktau | Rail freight and transit charges across China and Kazakhstan |
| Caspian crossing | Port handling at Aktau and Alat plus the container ship or ferry slot |
| Azerbaijan | Baku terminal charges, import clearance and final delivery |
| Container | COC hire, or SOC positioning and return |
Send the origin, commodity, volume, equipment and delivery address; what comes back is a rate breakdown that can be executed that week.
20–25 days door to door. The Caspian sailing connection is the main variable; we state the expected connection that week at booking.
No. Cargo runs China → Kazakhstan → Caspian → Azerbaijan, with no leg through Russia. That is why many shippers choose this corridor.
Yes. Pipe, oilfield machinery and steel coil are regular cargo on this lane. Flat-rack, open-top and rail flat are used as needed, with stowage and axle-weight planning.
Yes — see Xi'an to Baku LCL, 1–2 fixed departures per week, 20–25 days station to station, from 1 revenue ton.