North-South Corridor (INSTC)
The International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a 7,200-km-long, multi-modal transport corridor for moving freight between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. It includes a network of ship, rail, and road transport modes.
It was established in 2000 with the objective of increasing trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar Abbas, Astrakhan and Bandar Anzali, as well as other cities and ports along the corridor. Participant countries aim to digitalise the process and reduce costs.
INSTC has gained importance this year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24, 2022. Western sanctions against Russia quickly followed and European and U.S. markets are now closed to most Russian products. Moscow has responded by pivoting its import and export trade south and east. Iran, India and China are identified as key markets to be expanded in the strategy to replace European trade.
Ports Europe: Updated October 18, 2022
IRISL with first cargo shipment from Russia to India through the North-South International Transport Corridor
Solyanka, Russia (Ports Europe) June 13, 2022 – The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) has realised the first multimodal cargo shipment from...
Russia’s President Putin calls for Caspian Sea port development
Moscow, Russia (Ports Europe) June 12, 2022 – Hard pressed by western sanctions for his invasion in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged in...
The two most sanctioned countries try to cheat the West via a logistics bridge across Caspian Sea
Astrakhan, Russia (Ports Europe) June 3, 2022 – The two most sanctioned countries in the world – Russia and Iran – are trying to improve transport links...
The sea port of Astrakhan on the Volga River to help Russia bypass Western sanctions
Astrakhan, Russia (Ports Europe) May 18, 2022 – Russia is trying to bypass Western transport sanctions via the seaport of Astrakhan on the Volga River...
Ports of the province of Gilan handled a total of 1.32 million tons of goods in the current Iranian year’s first nine months
Tehran, Iran (Ports Europe) January 19, 2022 – The ports of the Caspian Sea province of Gilan handled a total of 1.32 tons of goods in the current...
New container terminal planned for Olya port and deepening of Volga-Caspian Sea Canal
Olya, Russia (Ports Europe) January 18, 2022 – By the end of 2023, the first stage of construction of a new container terminal in Caspian Sea port of...
Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia agree on a transit route connecting Persian Gulf with Black Sea
Amirabad, Iran (PortSEurope) December 15, 2021 – In a desperate need of trade links severely curtailed under Western sanctions, Iran has agreed with...
EDB to finance the new multifunctional port and logistics complex in Caspian Sea port of Olya
Olya, Russia (PortSEurope) December 3, 2021 – The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is considering financing for the Caspian Port and Logistics Company...
Eurasian Development Bank issues new report on potential of the International North–South Transport Corridor
Vienna, Austria (PortSEurope) December 1, 2021 – The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has published new research on the cargo transport potential along...
Iran’s Anzali Caspian Sea port sees cargo traffic up over 12%
Tehran, Iran (PortSEurope) December 1, 2021 – In the first eight months of the Iranian year, March 21-Nov. 21, the Iranian port of Anzali handled 1.28...
TRACECA and Iran hold talks
Baku, Azerbaijan (PortSEurope) October 13, 2021 – Asset Assavbayev, TRACECA Secretary General and Seyed Abbas Mousavi, Ambassador Extraordinary and...
Delo Group seeks to expand International North–South Transport Corridor
Novorossiysk, Russia (Ports Europe) September 15, 2021 – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Delo Group, Sergey Shishkarev, has suggested to develop...
Analysis – Caspiy and Martrade advance plans for modernisation of berths in Olya port on the Caspian Sea
Olya, Russia (Ports Europe) September 1, 2021 – PLC Caspiy has received from Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development resident status for the port-type...
104% growth in rail transit in Amirabad port
Amirabad, Iran (Ports Europe) April 9, 2021 – Director General of Amirabad Ports and Maritime Affairs, Mohammad Ali Asl Saeedipoor, said that in the last...
Makhachkala port to be privatised
Makhachkala, Russia (Ports Europe) March 16, 2021 – Makhachkala Sea Commercial Port JSC, on Russia’s west Caspian Sea coast may be offered for...
India would like to see Iranian port of Chabahar join the International North-South Transport Corridor
Mumbai, India (Ports Europe) March 7, 2021 – The Indian government has proposed that the port of Chabahar join the International North-South Transport...
Iran’s Anzali and Astara ports report increased cargo traffic
Tehran, Iran (PortSEurope) December 30, 2020 – Gilan Province’s Ports and Maritime Department has reported that 1.033 million TEUs of goods have been...
New berths for general cargo, grain and oil in Iran’s Anzali port
Anzali, Iran (PortSEurope) November 19, 2020 – Several new projects have been inaugurated in the Iran’s Caspian Sea port of Anzali, 370 km north of the...
Kotlin Shipping Company to start container service linking Europe via Caspian Sea
Moscow, Russia (PortSEurope) October 14, 2020 – The Kotlin Shipping Company will start a container service linking the EU and Russia with Asia via the...
Analysis – Russia to develop modern container terminals in the Caspian Sea and Volga river
Astrakhan, Russia (PortSEurope) September 29, 2020 – There are no modern Russian container terminals on the Caspian Sea and the Volga river and it looks like...