Iran is shifting some imports to Caspian ports as a US naval blockade disrupts southern trade, but limited capacity and falling water levels constrain the route. Northern ports’ share of essential-goods transport is now 30%, up from 18% before the war.
UN Environment Programme chief Inger Andersen said in April that Caspian levels had fallen about 2 metres since the 1990s. Masoud Polmeh, secretary-general of the Shipping Association of Iran, said northern ports that once handled vessels up to 6,000 tonnes can now handle only 4,000-tonne ships; Iranian vessels on the Volga route have also been stranded by low water.
Iranian authorities have not detailed which goods or volumes have moved north. They have identified barley, maize, wheat and oilseeds as priorities for northern ports; Gilan Governor Hadi Haghshenas said container arrivals at Caspian ports rose 50% year on year during the five Iranian calendar months ending August 22.
