Kazakhstan will acquire two container ships from Azerbaijan as part of a broader effort to expand cargo transit through the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev announced at a government meeting, according to Caspianlife.kz.
The minister presented an update on the country’s cross-border transport hubs and ongoing modernization of Caspian infrastructure.
Modernization of Aktau and Kuryk Ports Accelerates
According to the press service of the Kazakh Prime Minister, work is advancing across the “Caspian Hub,” including large-scale upgrades to the ports of Aktau and Kuryk.
The first phase of a new container hub in Aktau, being developed jointly with China’s Lianyungang company, will be completed by the end of the year.
Additional projects include dredging operations in the port basin and modernization of existing berths.
Two Azerbaijani Container Ships by 2027
Sauranbayev noted that a major component of Kazakhstan’s logistics expansion is the acquisition of two container vessels with a capacity of 700 TEU each from Azerbaijan. The ships are expected to come into service by 2027, significantly increasing container traffic across the Caspian Sea.
The minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to increase throughput on the railway line linking Kazakhstan’s inland network to Caspian ports.
Throughput Capacity to Reach 30 Million Tons
Once all listed projects are completed, the combined throughput capacity of the Aktau and Kuryk ports is projected to rise to 30 million tons annually, strengthening Kazakhstan’s role in Middle Corridor transit routes that link China, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Europe.
