Aktau Terminal Plans to Reach One Million Tons of Grain Transshipment

During the Kazakh Grain & Logistic Forum, held on February 4 in Almaty, Gohan Güvenç, CEO of the Aktau Northern Terminal (ASNT), presented the company’s development strategy amid the growing importance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). Taking into account the steady growth in container turnover and grain handling volumes, the terminal has set an ambitious target of reaching 1 million tons of grain transshipment by 2026. The Iranian market remains the key export destination for the terminal.

To achieve these targets, ASNT’s management has initiated a series of infrastructure upgrades. One of the most promising projects is the construction of a specialized transshipment station for vegetable oils, with a projected capacity of 100,000 to 200,000 tons per year. Alongside service diversification, the company plans a comprehensive modernization of its existing grain complex. Optimization of the conveyor system will enable the terminal to fully utilize Berth No. 23 on a year-round basis, significantly increasing overall throughput capacity. Implementation of these projects will require mixed financing, combining external investment with the use of the company’s own funds.

Currently, the terminal, located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, operates as a high-tech multifunctional hub with an annual capacity of 3 million tons. Its technical infrastructure includes a grain complex with 60,000 tons of simultaneous storage capacity, distributed across six silos, as well as a developed railway network capable of handling up to 38 railcars at a time. The ownership structure — Interport Development (60%), KTZ Express (30%), and the Aktau Sea Port (10%) — ensures a balance between private investment and state interests in developing the Middle Corridor. Strengthening the terminal’s position within this logistics chain directly contributes to enhancing the region’s transit potential along the route between China and Europe.