Afghanistan Launches Major Strategic Export Shipments via Multi-Nation Lapis Lazuli Corridor

Afghanistan rolls out 8 commercial shipments through the Lapis Lazuli Corridor to the US and Europe. Discover how this route links Central Asia to global markets.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 7:12 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Trend News Agency

A New Chapter in Afghan Trade Logistics

Afghanistan has officially commenced the transportation of eight critical commercial consignments under the framework of the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, signaling a renewed push for economic self-sufficiency. According to reports from Trend News Agency on March 16, the Afghan logistics firm “Rahmat Moomin” is overseeing the transit of diverse national exports, ranging from high-value dried fruits and jams to industrial pressure cookers and energy drinks. The rollout represents a major step in the practical application of the corridor, which was designed to provide landlocked Afghanistan with a direct, high-capacity link to international consumers.

Multimodal Transit: From Torghundi to the Atlantic

The journey for these consignments begins at the Torghundi border control point, where they enter Turkmenistan. The logistical route is notably complex, utilizing road, rail, and maritime transport to navigate the geography of the Eurasian landmass. From Turkmenistan, the goods are transported to the port of Turkmenbashi for a Caspian Sea crossing to Baku, Azerbaijan. The corridor then traverses Georgia and Türkiye, where the shipments are consolidated for final delivery to a wide array of global destinations, including Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Australia, and the United States. This path effectively utilizes the infrastructure of the Middle Corridor to ensure goods reach Western markets efficiently.

Origins and Evolution of the Lapis Lazuli Route

Established in November 2017 during the RECCA-VII conference in Ashgabat, the Lapis Lazuli Corridor was named after the ancient trade routes that once moved Afghan gemstones across the continent. The framework agreement was signed by Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye with the goal of reducing transit costs and enhancing regional security. While test shipments in 2018 accounted for only 175 tons, the route’s capacity has grown significantly, with over 55,000 tons of cargo moving through the Azerbaijani segment by 2020. At its peak operational capacity, the corridor is engineered to facilitate the movement of 2 to 3 million tons of goods annually.