The volume of container cargo transportation between the ports of Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan and Alat, Republic of Azerbaijan, increased significantly in the first half of the year. According to the press service  of the Merchant Marine of Turkmenistan, for January-June 2023 the total number of containers transported on this route amounted to 2362 TEU, which is 2.9 times more in comparison with the same period of 2022. Currently, the "Balkan" feeder vessel continues to carry out container transportation from the port of Turkmenbashi to the port of Alat and back, thereby increasing the volume of container traffic.

Of the total number of containers transported in the first 6 months of 2023, 25% were import containers, 34% were export containers and 41% were transit containers. This indicates the growth of transit potential of Turkmenbashi port as an important link in international trade routes.

The development of transport and transit infrastructure is of particular importance for Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, which have favorable geographical location. On this basis, the countries are consistently increasing their transport potential, initiating and implementing major international and regional transport projects designed to bring international economic and trade cooperation to a qualitatively new level.

Recently, a delegation of Turkmenistan, which included heads of a number of public and private structures in the field of transportation, logistics and trade, visited the Alat Free Economic Zone (AFEZ) and the Baku International Sea Trade Port and discussed issues of further cooperation with the Azerbaijani side. The purpose of the trip was to search for opportunities to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan in increasing cargo transportation between Central Asia and Europe.