Drones attack Makhachkala port as Russia expands grain exports via the Caspian Sea

Drones attacked the area of the Makhachkala Commercial Sea Port in Dagestan overnight on September 10. Local residents reported explosions at around 3:00 a.m. and smoke over the port area. According to OSINT sources, possible strikes were recorded near port infrastructure. There is currently no official information on the extent of damage or the potential impact of the attack on port operations.

Makhachkala is Russia’s only ice-free deep-water port on the Caspian Sea and operates year-round. It handles grain, crude oil and petroleum products, fertelizers, cement and other cargoes. The port is part of the North-South transport corridor and serves Russia’s trade routes with Iran and other countries in the Caspian region.

The port’s importance for the agricultural market has been growing. Grain exports through Makhachkala are primarily destined for Iran and include corn and barley. In the first quarter of 2026, grain throughput reached 161.8 thsd tonnes, approximately five times the volume recorded in the same period a year earlier.

The Caspian route is gaining additional importance amid disruptions to Russia’s grain logistics in the Azov-Black Sea basin. Makhachkala is considered one of the alternative routes for shipments to Iran and neighboring markets. However, its capacity remains significantly below that of Russia’s major Black Sea export terminals, with the existing grain terminal capable of handling around 0.5 mln tonnes per year.

Russia plans to significantly expand grain infrastructure at the Makhachkala port, including the construction of a new terminal with an annual capacity of around 1.5 mln tonnes of grain. Any disruption to port operations could therefore primarily affect Russian grain shipments via the Caspian route, although there are currently no confirmed reports that cargo handling has been suspended following the attack.

Tags: grain, war, Iran, Russia, export