Port Aktau will be capable of handling some 20 million tonnes of oil and 3.5 million tonnes of dry cargo after reconstruction, the port’s deputy Director Dauren Kutpanbayev told journalists according to Azerbaijan News. According to the source, oil transshipment will grow to 5 million tonnes in the nearest future due to transshipment of oil from Tengiz field. As for dry cargo, port Aktau exports some 1.2 million tonnes of steel and grain to Iran and Azerbaijan. Average annual transshipment of grain via Aktau makes 200,000-250,000 tonnes, while this year it is to grow to 11.5 million tonnes.
Kutpanbayev also told the port had signed a number of contracts with China on increase of transit via Kazakhstan to Turkey and Europe.
The port of Aktau is located at the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. It is the only seaport of Kazakhstan to serve international transportation of dry cargo, oil and oil products. The port works all-the-year-round. As of today the port handles some 11 million tonnes of cargo per year. Aktau accounts for 34% of total throughput at the Caspian Sea. The forecasts say in 3-4 years it is to grow to 46%. Oil transshipment is forecasted to increase by 10-10.5 million tonnes.