Russia To Invest US$6.2 Billion In Developing Krasnodar Regional Ports In Azov & Black Sea

Russia is to invest more than ₽500 billion (US$6.2 billion) in the development of Krasnodar’s port infrastructure by 2030, according to Nikolai Patrushev, the Chairman of Russia’s Maritime Board. He stated that “About 20 projects with a total investment of over ₽500 billion are planned to be implemented in the ports of the Krasnodar Territory – Novorossiysk, Taman, Tuapse, Temryuk, Kavkaz, and Yeysk, by 2030.” He was speaking during a meeting on the implementation of national maritime policy in the coastal territories of the Azov-Black Sea region. This will facilitate the establishment of regular routes with the countries of the global South and the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor.

He stressed that Russia’s development includes the “large-scale process of updating and expanding Russia’s port infrastructure.” In particular, a universal transshipment complex with a capacity of 12 million tonnes of cargo per year is being built in Novorossiysk Port, and a transshipment complex of ammonia and mineral fertilizers with a capacity of up to 5 million tonnes per year is being built in Taman Port.

In addition, projects are being implemented in the Rostov region to build a complex of port, logistics facilities, and terminals for the export shipment of grain and bulk cargo to river-sea vessels.

Patrushev noted that all ports of the Azov-Black Sea basin should be integrated into a single transport system in the near future in order to roll out regular routes towards the global South. He said that “it is important to integrate all ports of the Azov-Black Sea region into the unified transport system of Russia as soon as possible and ensure their efficient operation, including determining their role in maritime interregional and international cargo transportation. Solving these tasks, as well as creating conditions for the operation of river-sea vessels in the Azov-Black Sea basin and building new export routes with countries of the global South, will contribute to the development of the international North-South transport corridor.”

Currently, the ports of the Azov-Black Sea basin actively carry out transportation with Turkiye, as well as to the countries of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. However, their use is limited by the need for transshipment to feeder vessels. In addition, access to ports is provided through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits, where shipping is often suspended due to geopolitical incidents.