Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest lake on Earth by both area and volume. It is bordered by Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. It has a surface area of 371,000 km². The ports of the littoral states include key trading hubs in international transport corridors and the new Silk Road; including Baku, Aktau & Astrakhan. The sea has become topical since the Russian invasion of Ukraine (started 24.02.2022) as traders seek routes which do not pass through Russian territory. The heavily-sanctioned states of Russia and Iran also have interests in the Caspian Sea’s transport capacity.
Kazakhstan’s Kuryk port handled over 1 mln tonnes of cargo in H1’24
Kuryk, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) July 20, 2024 – Kazakhstan’s second largest Caspian Sea port of Kuryk handled 1.053 million tonnes of cargo in the first...
Russian TEU turnover in H1’24 increase 14.6% to 2.6 mln
Moscow, Russia (Ports Europe) July 18, 2024 – Container turnover of Russian sea ports in the second quarter of 2024 increased by 11.8% compared to...
Update: First cruise ship visiting all Caspian states in 2025
Astrakhan, Russia (Ports Europe) July 14, 2024 – After a multi-year delay, the first-ever cruise route visiting all Caspian Sea littoral states is expected...
China to invest in container hub in Port of Aktau. Kazakhstan
Aktau, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) July 8, 2024 – China is set to invest in container hub in Port of Aktau, a Caspian Sea port. At recent discussions...
China started regular truck service to Europe via Middle Corridor
Kurik, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) July 6, 2024 – China has begun the regular lorries cargo service via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route...
Islamist attacks disrupt operations of Caspian Makhachkala port
Makhachkala, Russia (Ports Europe) June 24, 2024 – Islamist fighters have attacked a church, a synagogue and a police post in Russia’s Caspian Sea port...
The delayed Rasht-Caspian Railway is operational
Rasht, Iran (Ports Europe) June 22, 2024 – The long-delayed Iran’s Rasht-Caspian Railway, connecting the city of Rasht to the country’s Caspian Sea port...
Table: Russian ports monthly cargo results, Oct 23-May 24
Moscow, Russia (Ports Europe) June 18, 2024 – The table below, prepared by Ports Europe, shows monthly cargo handling figures for Russian ports in millions...
Russian ports handled 373 mln tonnes of cargo in Jan-May 2023
Moscow, Russia (Ports Europe) June 18, 2024 – Cargo turnover of Russian seaports in the January-May period decreased by 3.4% compared to the first five...
Joint Russia-Iran agency activities in Iran’s ports
Astrakhan, Russia (Ports Europe) June 15, 2024 – Iran’s state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) wants to organise joint agency...
Kazakhstan’s Ersai terminal received first dry cargo ships
Kuryk, Kazakhstan, June 11, 2024 – Kazakhstan’s Ersai marine terminal, part of the Caspian Sea port of Kuryk, has received the first two dry cargo...
Baku hosts inaugural Caspian Blue Horizons Workshop
Baku, Azerbaijan (Ports Europe) June 10, 2024 – Baku International Sea Trade Port CJSC, ADA University and IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental...
U.S. and EU-sanctioned friend of Putin to buy Makhachkala port
Makhachkala, Russia (Ports Europe) June 8, 2024 – The U.S., UK and EU-sanctioned Suleyman Abusaidovich, Russia-based billionaire, oligarch, and...
Caspian Middle Corridor Conference – London, June 11, 2024
London, United Kingdom (Ports Europe) June 3, 2024 – The Caspian Policy Centre (CPC) is organising the event “Caspian Middle Corridor...
Sustainable development goals of Baku port
Baku, Azerbaijan (Ports Europe) June 3, 2024 – Azerbaijan’s Baku International Sea Trade Port (BISTP), the oldest and biggest one on the Caspian Sea,...
Olya and Astrakhan to handle 6 mln cargo tonnes in 2024
Astrakhan, Russia (Ports Europe) June 1, 2024 – The combined cargo turnover of Russia’s Caspian Sea ports of Olya and Astrakhan in 2024 can reach 6...
Sanctioned Russian gas exported via ports as fertilisers
Moscow, Russia (Ports Europe) May 31, 2024 – Without buyers for its sanctioned and with declining value gas, Russia is trying to export it converted into...
How To Maximize The Middle Corridor – Caspian Policy Center
Washington, USA (Ports Europe) May 31, 2024 – Earlier this month, the Caspian Policy Center hosted “The 8th Annual Trans-Caspian Forum: How to Maximize...
Kazakhstan adopts 2024-2028 maritime infrastructure plan
Astana, Kazakhstan (Ports Europe) May 23, 2024 – The capacity of Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea ports of Aktau and Kuryk will be increased by +50% and container...
The road to the Caspian Sea – Makhachkala port
Makhachkala, Russia (Ports Europe) May 21, 2024 – After years of delays, the project for the construction of an access road to Russia’s Caspian Sea port of...