The head of Sara Logistics, Ulvi Ojagli, says the Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) and Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) have raised cargo transport tariffs by 10-20%. The increase is most pronounced on Middle Corridor routes, including shipments from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
Speaking to FED.AZ, Sara Logistics head Ulvi Ojagli said the rise in rail and sea freight costs applies equally to tariffs set by both the Caspian Shipping Company and Azerbaijan Railways. He noted that while the exact figure varies depending on cargo type, the overall tariff increase has ranged from 10% to 20%.
Ojagli pointed to regional military conflicts and the suspension of some transport routes as among the reasons behind the trend. He said geopolitical instability alone has pushed up transport costs by at least 10%.
Beyond the base tariffs, he added, costs linked to cargo transshipment, station handling fees and other operational charges are also on the rise. Combined, these factors are driving up the overall cost of freight transport.
According to the Sara Logistics head, higher logistics costs could feed through to the cost of imported goods and, ultimately, retail prices. He cautioned, however, that it is difficult to predict precisely how much of this increase will be passed on to end consumers.
