The addition of a new mobile harbor crane will increase APM Terminals Poti's annual container handling capacity to 650,000 TEU, according to Zviad Chkhartishvili, Head of the Poti Sea Port Administration.
Speaking to BMG's Business Course, Chkhartishvili said the $7.1 million investment will add capacity for an extra 50,000 TEU per year, enabling the port to accommodate rising cargo volumes along the Middle Corridor. Over the past 18 months, APM Terminals has already expanded the port's capacity by 100,000 TEU in response to growing demand.
He described the new crane as a short-term solution, noting that the long-term priority remains the planned expansion of Poti Port. However, discussions with the government on the expansion project have not progressed, and the company is currently focused on addressing immediate operational bottlenecks.
Chkhartishvili said the government has pledged to improve border crossing and customs procedures to support growing cargo flows, while APM Terminals has committed to handling the increased traffic. He added that the long-term expansion plan remains uncertain, with no clear timeline from the government.
Cargo volumes at Poti Port continued to grow strongly in the second quarter of 2026. The port handled 185,537 TEU of containers, up from 167,056 TEU a year earlier, while general cargo reached 213,237 tons and ferry cargo totaled 106,646 tons, both significantly higher than in the corresponding periods of 2025 and 2024.
