New Caspian Sea mooring to begin transshipment in 2026 after weather conditions improve
ASTRAKHAN. Feb 9 (Interfax) - Astra LLC, a resident of the Astrakhan Region's port special economic zone (port SEZ), will begin transshipping grain crops in 2026 using a new offshore transshipment complex located at the exit of the Volga-Caspian Shipping Canal in the northern Caspian Sea, the region's Industry, Trade and Energy Ministry told Interfax.
"The actual commencement of loading and unloading operations and the ramp-up of the offshore transshipment complex to its design capacity, including planned transshipment volumes, will occur in early 2026, once favorable weather conditions and appropriate ice conditions are established," the ministry said.
However, the company previously planned to begin first shipments in 2025 and transship at least 80,000 tonnes of grain by the end of last year. As reported, the planned transshipment volumes would total around 500,000 tonnes for the 2026 navigation season.
The main purpose of the offshore transshipment complex is the transshipment of grain crops on the high seas for export to Iran, which will enable sustainable and uninterrupted grain logistics in the Caspian region and improve the reliability of export and import operations. The complex's standard capacity is up to 3,000 tonnes per day.
A cooperation agreement between the Astrakhan Region and Astra LLC was signed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2025 . Investment in the project totals 650 million rubles.
Astra LLC was registered in July 2024 with authorized charter capital of 30,000 rubles. Its primary activity is cargo handling. The company is currently constructing a refrigerated logistics terminal in the SEPZ for the reception and temporary storage of wholesale shipments of fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products. The investment totals approximately 1 billion rubles.
The Volga-Caspian Shipping Canal connects a section of the Bakhtemir River, which is the main branch of the Volga Delta, and the Caspian Sea in the Astrakhan Region. The canal allows seagoing vessels to call at the ports of Olya and Astrakhan, both located in the region.
Port SEZ and a Caspian cluster were established near the port of Olya in 2020 upon presidential instruction as part of the comprehensive development of the North-South International Transport Corridor. The Lotus SEZ, which operates in the region, was merged into a cluster with port SEZ.
