RZD continues offering discounts on the INSTC and other routes
Russian state-owned railway company RZD introduces another round of discounts along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The company established an 8,9 per cent discount on grain transport along the corridor, which will apply for...Read more
Iran and Russia want to invest 36 billion euros in the INSTC
Iran and Russia claim to be ready to invest around 36 billion euros in the development of trans-Caspain lines along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Concerning Iranian investments mentioned on rail freight, they include...Read more
Azerbaijan-Iran bridge interests and infrastructure to the benefit of INSTC
Geopolitical instability in the Caucasus area does not seem to hinder the development of relations between Iran and Azerbaijan. In contrast, it appears to be strengthening them. The two countries have also found themselves in...Read more
Can there be an India-Middle East-Europe corridor without Turkey?
ANALYSISThe recent confirmation of the US and EU-led plan to establish an India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, which will also be of great rail transport and logistics significance, has received the first backlash. Turkey’s President Recep...Read more
Connecting India and Central Asia via Latvia, how and why?
India has the ambition to step closer to Central Asian countries, but direct rail connections from India to Central Asia are unrealistic for mostly geopolitical reasons. Thus, rail-sea intermodal services become the solution, despite the...Read more
Saudi Arabia and Iran reactivate logistics service for Russian cargo
Russian cargo heading to Saudi Arabia can now transit on the Iranian rail network up to the port of Bandar Abbas. The option for this service was deactivated seven years ago due to the deteriorating...Read more
Will INSTC synergy attempts produce the expected results?
A new technology and logistics union is in the making in Russia to foster closer trade and economic ties with countries around the Caspian Sea and Central Asia. The union’s primary purpose will be to...Read more
Fesco to build container terminal on key INSTC node
terminal thursdayRussian transport giant Fesco will build a container terminal in the Ashtrakan region, an area of Russia that borders Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea. The location is relevant for the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)...Read more
Pakistan on track to become the new Persian Gulf gateway via rail
ANALYSISThe race to acquire a place in global supply chains is intensifying, and Pakistan seems committed to getting a good position. The South Asian country is on track to launch two railway projects, which are...Read more
Turkmenistan officially joins the INSTC
The Russian government has agreed to have Turkmenistan join the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The addition of Turkmenistan offers an alternative route on the eastern branch of the corridor that would bypass Azerbaijan.Read more
Iran joins SCO, Russia-India corridor hyped for more investments
Iran officially joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on 4 July, increasing the current SCO membership to nine. Alongside member states Russia and India, this new membership brings greater potential to the port of Chabahar,...Read more
RZD upgrades important terminal for INSTC traffic
Terminal ThursdayRZD will allocate 400 million rubles (roughly 4,4 million euros) to upgrade the Volzhsky rail freight terminal in the Volgograd region. The terminal’s modernisation will include lengthening the crane runway and expanding the container area....Read more
Moscow-Mumbai corridor to exceed 100 million tons, but when?
Russian Railways (RZD) has announced that the International North-South Trade Corridor (INSTC) has the potential to exceed 100 million tons. In terms of rail transport alone, the volume of this corridor increased by 60 per...Read more
Iran to unlock a new rail route on Russia-India corridor
Iran is about to complete the construction of a railway section on the Russia-India route. The new section will connect the Iranian Caspian seaport city Bandar Anzali and Rasht. The line is expected to be...Read more
Major rail project in Middle East, US leverage against China-Russia
ANALYSISJake Sullivan, the White House National Security advisor, met with his Saudi, Emirati and Indian counterparts and discussed a joint railway project linking the Middle East to India via a railway network crossing Saudi Arabia,...Read more
Under pressure: Russia-India attempt to speed up INSTC trade
ANALYSISThe Russo-Indian relations’ development dynamics are increasingly characterised by interdependence and attempts for more engagement. The two countries share plans varying from sea transport to rail freight, joint ventures and payment mechanisms, but not all...Read more
Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan form joint venture on INSTC
The railway companies of Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have formed a new joint venture to operate rail freight services on the eastern branch of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC). This corridor links Russia...Read more
Russian fuel already finds its way to Iran via INSTC’s eastern branch
Following an energy supply deal of 40 billion US dollars last year, Russia has started the first fuel shipments to Iran via rail. It appears that already in February and March this year, 30,000 tonnes...Read more
From Moscow to Mumbai: geopolitical powerplay determines the corridor’s future
ANALYSISIs the International-North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) still too young to determine its development? Even though the corridor has been in the spotlight for more than a year, it still faces certain limitations affecting its establishment...Read more