In the context of the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions and the rupture of supply chains, Kazakhstan is working on transshipment of goods along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) through ports on the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan has great potential for the growth of grain transportation, including in the direction of Iran. Relevant work is currently underway. This was stated today at the Asia Grains & Oils-2022 conference by the General Director of Aktau Marine Northern Terminal LLP Dauren Kaliaskarov.
“We are ready to provide all types of services, including TMTM, given that we export durum wheat to Europe via this route. If sanctions restrictions remain, we are ready to consider a further increase in transportation, and we are working on reloading so that they can be exported through TMTM to Turkey, Europe and other countries,” the speaker said.
He noted that in recent years in Kazakhstan there has been a decrease in the transshipment of grain cargo through ports. Among other things, it is associated with a lower grain yield in Kazakhstan, a reduction in imports from Iran and other factors. In total, the ports of the Republic of Kazakhstan have the potential to transship more than 2 million tons of grain per month, but this figure has not yet been reached. Considering that Iran alone imports more than 10 million tons of grain and wheat, the growth potential is large.
As for the cost of transshipment, today the tariff rate for the Aktau Sea North Terminal is about $13-13.5/ton of grain in dollar terms.
Commenting on the issue of cargo demurrage, Dauren Kaliaskarov noted that at present the number of importers is decreasing, and applications for loading are received unevenly.
“There are deadlines, deadlines, but it often turns out that all the main applications fall within a certain couple of months. December, January - were almost empty. We were ready to work, but there were no applications as such,” said the general director of the terminal.
Weather factors also play a role. If earlier, due to weather conditions, 5-7 days were planned for downtime, but now this figure has almost reached 10 days. In 2021, an anti-record was recorded when the terminal stood idle for 18 days out of 31 in March.
Since 2020, systematic work has been carried out to reduce non-production downtime. To date, a commission consisting of border guards, customs officers, and the maritime port administration is working in the terminal, which has reduced the total time for receiving ships.
“From 1.5 to 2 hours a day, we win from each ship. On an annualized basis, serious time is obtained,” Dauren Kaliaskarov emphasized.
Recall: the organizer of Asia Grains & Oils Conference 2022 is APK-Inform Agency together with the Kazakh company Expo Time and the Uzbek Inter Standard Consult. The general partner of the event is the Grain Union of Kazakhstan.