Russia, Iran To Launch Ulyanovsk–Astara Shipping Route

Russia and Iran are preparing to launch a new shipping route linking Ulyanovsk and Astara, in a move aimed at expanding bilateral trade and strengthening logistical connectivity between the two countries. The planned route will connect Russia’s Ulyanovsk with the Iranian port city of Astara, creating a new transport corridor for agricultural and industrial goods. Officials from both sides say the project is part of broader efforts to diversify trade routes and reduce reliance on traditional land-based transport.

Under the plan, the first shipment is expected to be launched in 2026, with an initial focus on moving Russian agricultural exports such as grain and vegetable oils, alongside Iranian industrial and consumer products including petrochemicals, plastics, tea, and citrus fruits.

The new shipping line is also seen as a step toward enhancing regional integration and improving access to Caspian Sea trade networks. By opening an additional maritime corridor, Moscow and Tehran aim to facilitate faster, more cost-effective movement of goods and deepen economic cooperation.

Ulyanovsk lies on the Volga River deep in the centre of the European part of Russia, where east-west and north-south air, rail, car, and river routes cross. It has an industrial, transport, and business infrastructure and a developed network of roads and railways, which provide a good basis for turning Ulyanovsk into a major transport and logistics hub in the Volga Federal District, working not only for the Ulyanovsk Region’s plants but also for the whole Volga Federal District. Ulyanovsk is a multimodal transport hub, with a busy river port and passenger terminal, railways with two major passenger and cargo stations, airports, and now two major bridges. With sea access, it serves Russian and international cargo traffic to Kazakhstan, Central Asia and Southeast Asia, Europe, China, and back.

The Volga River empties out into the Caspian Sea, where vessels can connect with multiple ports in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. Astara is the main port servicing the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which in turn can bisect Iran via rail and lead onto ports on the Persian Gulf.

Officials noted that the route could play a strategic role in supporting long-term trade growth, particularly as both countries seek alternative logistics channels amid shifting global trade dynamics.