For the first time in many years, a transit train carrying Russian wheat has traveled through Azerbaijan and Georgia on its way to Armenia. The 15-car train arrived at the Armenian station of Ayrum, marking a symbolic step toward restoring regional transport connections that had long been blocked due to the protracted Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict. 

According to the Government of Armenia, an additional 132 wagons of grain are expected to arrive by the end of January 2026, which will help ensure the country’s internal food balance and reduce dependence on longer and more expensive routes through the Black Sea region.

The decision to authorize the transit became possible following a series of negotiations between Yerevan, Baku, and Tbilisi, with the involvement of international partners. Baku emphasized that the transit has an “exclusively humanitarian and economic character” and is aimed at stabilizing regional relations.

For Armenia, this move carries not only economic but also political significance. It demonstrates a partial easing of tensions with Azerbaijan and confirms the willingness of both sides to gradually restore transport links envisaged by the trilateral agreements reached after the 2020 conflict.

Delivering grain through Azerbaijan and Georgia reduces transportation time and costs by approximately 20-25% compared with alternative routes. It also allows Armenia to plan grain imports more sustainably without relying on unstable maritime corridors. The transit opens prospects for creating a new South Caucasus transport corridor, which could become a vital link between Russia, Iran, and the Middle East.

Experts note that this development represents one of the first tangible manifestations of “economic peace” between Baku and Yerevan. It aligns with broader regional trends: the European Union and the United Kingdom have recently expressed readiness to support projects aimed at restoring connections and transport routes across the South Caucasus. Russia, for its part, is interested in ensuring stable transit as an element of regional stability that reinforces its economic presence. Turkey may view this process as part of its broader initiative to integrate Turkic and neighboring countries into a unified infrastructure network.

Thus, the grain transit is not merely a trade operation but an element of a new regional architecture, where cooperation is gradually replacing confrontation. Yerevan has already announced that it is considering the possibility of transporting not only grain but also other goods from Russia via Azerbaijan. Additionally, there is potential for establishing a bilateral or trilateral coordination mechanism among the railway administrations of the three countries.

Against this backdrop, Armenia may see a decrease in bread and grain prices by spring 2026, provided the supplies remain stable.

The transit of grain through Azerbaijan and Georgia to Armenia is therefore more than a logistical episode – it is an indicator of a new geo-economic reality in the South Caucasus. If this process continues steadily, it may lay the foundation for long-term peace, regional cooperation, and the gradual removal of political barriers that have divided the countries of the region for decades.

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07.11.2025 11:43