Aktau seaport cargo traffic soars since start of 2024

The volume of transit cargo through the Aktau seaport has been increasing since the start of 2024. Nearly 16,000 containers have been transshipped there within five months, which is twice the amount compared to the same period last year. A record of over 5,000 containers was set in May. Overall, container shipments along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route from China to Europe have grown twofold since the beginning of the year.

«For the first time, the Aktau seaport witnessed a historic event in terms of handling a large number of containers, specifically 5,100 TEU containers. This milestone was due to a significant shift in Chinese transit traffic, which has been redirected through the Aktau port, accounting for 50 percent of the total container turnover,» said Anuar Nemyshov, spokesperson for the Aktau Sea Commercial Port.

By August, the sea port will be equipped with modern machinery to handle large volumes of container cargo. Reach stackers and portal cranes will boost load capacity, enhancing service efficiency and ultimately reducing cargo delivery times.

«Chinese transit containers are delivered through the Aktau seaport to Azerbaijan’s Absheron. The delivery time from China to Absheron is eight to nine days, while shipments to the seaports of Poti and Batumi in Georgia take up to 11 days,» Kairat Kaliolla, spokesperson for the Aktau Sea Commercial Port, said.

Overall, the majority of cargo passing through the Aktau seaport involves container transit from China via the TITR. This route passes through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, and further extends to Türkiye and European countries.