The combined transshipment capacities of the ports of Astrakhan and Olya already amount to 16 million tons per year — new terminals are being built with access through the Volga to the Caspian Sea. A record cargo turnover of 10 million tons is projected for the entire North-South trans-Caspian branch of the MTK in 2026. By 2030, experts expect the total flow along the corridor to reach 35 million tons, of which 15 million tons will be accounted for by sea transportation through the Caspian Sea.
Makhachkala port records record figures in parallel with Astrakhan. Transportation by "river-sea" class vessels from the Volga river ports directly to Iran is steadily increasing. The redistribution of global transport flows is shifting the emphasis from traditional sea routes to overland and Caspian destinations, which directly affects the choice of logistics schemes for cargo to South Asia and the Middle East.
The forum, which brought together more than 320 participants face-to-face and about 200 online, discussed financial payments, cargo insurance and new tools for entering the region's markets. The Ministry of Transport of Iraq has confirmed its interest in joining the North-South Transport Corridor. The launch of railway ferries on the route Russia — Iran —Turkmenistan was considered.
Delegations from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India participated in the exchange of export-import proposals. Purchasing sessions with buyers from these countries were held with the participation of professional translators, a format focused on direct access of manufacturers to buyers without intermediaries.
A separate section was dedicated to the special port economic zone "Lotos". Projects for the construction and modernization of port and railway terminals for transshipment of grain, vegetable oil, containers, coal and petroleum products in the Astrakhan region and along the entire North-South route of the MTK are presented.
For foreign economic activity participants focused on the Iranian and related markets, the expansion of the corridor's infrastructure means the emergence of new transshipment capacities and a potential reduction in transit costs. Iraq's joining the route could open up an additional route for Russian exports — negotiations on this track are already underway at the state level.
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