In an effort to boost trade with India, Iran, Gulf countries and Kazakhstan, Russia will build a seaport with 12.5 million tons capacity

The new port, which will be constructed in Russia’s Kalmykia region, will consist of 32 off-loading terminals and other facilities such as elevators with a capacity of 300,000 tons of simultaneous storage for grain crops, as well as terminals for storing and shipping vegetable oils, fruits and vegetables and other goods, said a report in Tehran Times.

“The grain and container terminals will have the capacity of five million tons each, while the liquid cargo terminal will have the capacity of 500,000 tons,” it said.

Russia is inclined towards container transportation as existing sea transport hubs in the neighbouring regions are not adapted for this. The report highlighted that container traffic is planned to operate mainly from India and the Persian Gulf countries through Iran.

In 2019, Russia’s minister of North Caucasus Affairs Sergey Chebotarev had stated that Russia’s port in the Caspian and Black Seas will become hubs in a new transport corridor. It will provide an alternative to the current transport corridor through the South Caucasus.

Russia had approved a plan for the development of a seaport in November 2017 to create a sustainable transport and logistics corridor and to develop trade and tourism primarily with Iran, Gulf, India and the Central Asian countries.