Russia to Boost Freight Traffic Along North–South Corridor with New Terminal

A new container terminal is planned for construction in the port zone of Astrakhan Oblast, Russia, which will enable an increase in freight volumes along the international North–South Transport Corridor by at least 8 million tons by 2030. This was announced by the region's governor, Igor Babushkin, according to Trans.ru. According to the governor, Astrakhan’s ports are already showing growth in cargo turnover, having handled 6 million tons in 2024. The overall transshipment potential of the region is estimated at 16 million tons. Babushkin also noted that the ports have undergone modernization, enabling them to efficiently handle specialized cargo from Belarus for further shipment to Southeast Asia. Astrakhan Oblast plays a key role in the North–South Transport Corridor. Via the Caspian Sea, cargo is routed to Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries, from where it continues by sea or land transport to other parts of Asia. Trans.ru reports that under current sanctions, this corridor has become a vital alternative for Belarus in conducting foreign trade. Specifically, the Belarusian Railway is using the route to export goods to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, India, Iran, and other countries. In March, a trial shipment of potash fertilizers from Belarus to China was carried out via Russia and Iran. As part of this project, three full-length container trains were dispatched.