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Iran began to allow part of the Chinese ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Fars news agency reported on May 15. Trump lifted the two-day blockade of the strait after the first round of talks with Xi Jinping. About 20% of the world's oil and LNG supplies pass through Hormuz. For cargo carriers and importers whose routes are linked to the Persian Gulf, this is a pause in the most acute episode of the crisis.

International logistics continues to be rapidly rebuilt. Businesses are increasingly transferring cargo to overland routes across Eurasia, reducing their dependence on congested sea routes and unstable transit zones.

China has launched the Nanchang–Baku railway route via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The first train carrying industrial and consumer goods passes through Khorgos, Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea crossing. The stated effect is to reduce transit from 50 days to 18 days and reduce logistics costs by an average of 15-20%. We look at why this strengthens the Middle Corridor and how the competition of routes is changing against the background of the instability of sea routes.