Iran partly shifts Russian grain purchases to the Caspian route

Iran is partly redirecting purchases of Russian wheat to the Caspian Sea amid disruptions to Black Sea shipments and restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the start of the current marketing year, Iran has purchased around 200 thsd tons of Russian wheat. The Caspian route is used mainly for smaller cargoes, limiting its capacity compared with large seaborne shipments.

Analysts expect the role of the Caspian route to increase further if Black Sea logistics problems persist. However, the route is not able to fully replace the volumes traditionally shipped through the Black Sea.

Iran also imports Russian corn and barley through Caspian terminals. In August, these commodities accounted for the largest share of the country’s Russian grain purchases.

As of September 8, Iran’s total purchases of Russian grain were estimated at 913 thsd tons, with corn accounting for about half and barley for roughly one-third. The changing route structure reflects a broader logistics adjustment amid constraints in the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

Tags: imports, logistics, Caspian Sea, Hormuz, Iran, Russia, grain, grain export, Black Sea