Русский
Cargo flow along the INSTC route grew by 68% to 2.2 million tonnes over the first four months of 2026, according to Igor Babushkin, the Governor of Astrakhan Oblast, Kazem Jalali, the Iranian Ambassador of Iran. They noted that despite the tense situation in the region, the Trans-Caspian route demonstrates steady growth.
Russian export deliveries increased across a number of positions: shipments of meat and meat products rose nearly fourfold, and products of the flour and groats industry doubled. In imports, positive dynamics are maintained across traditional positions: fruits, nuts, cement, and ferrous metal products.
Babushkin said that a new dry cargo project RSD49 vessel, built at the Lotos shipyard to operate on the Caspian, has entered service in Astrakhan port.
Bilateral investment cooperation is also developing. In the Astrakhan SEZ, the construction of an Iranian factory for the production of household chemicals is now underway, while negotiations are in progress with Iranian investors on establishing a cement production facility, and a corresponding commercial proposal has already been provided.
Babushkin said that “We highly value the good-neighborly relations established between Astrakhan Oblast and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The regional government and I personally will continue to do everything necessary to further ramp up our multifaceted cooperation.”
