Makhachkala Seaport plans to strengthen its partnership with Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan in 2026 to redirect Chinese cargo to the Trans-Caspian route, the port said Sunday.

The port has also managed to cut costs for multimodal container shipments along the Mumbai–Makhachkala corridor by half as part of the North–South transport corridor.

Cargo traffic is shifting eastward and southward, with key partners including Iran, India, China, and Central Asian countries.

The port aims to launch ferry services connecting Turkmenistan, Iran, and Kazakhstan by 2030, significantly expanding the Caspian region’s transport capabilities.

Makhachkala Seaport is Russia’s deepwater, ice-free port on the Caspian Sea. It serves as a strategic link in southern Russia’s transport network to Central Asia, Iran, the South Caucasus, and other regional countries.