Kazakhstan's Aktau port to complete dredging project by end of 2026

Major dredging works at Kazakhstan's Aktau Port are set to begin soon, with Chinese contractor China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. aiming to complete the project by the end of 2026, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport has announced.

It said the company has already completed geodetic surveys and processed the data required for the project, Caliber.Az reports.

Specialised vessels, machinery and equipment are currently being delivered to the port.

Construction is also underway on a retaining dam at the reclamation site, with 680 of the planned 785 meters already completed.

The main dredging phase is scheduled to begin in the second half of July 2026. Once completed, the permissible draft in the port's waters will increase to 6-7 meters, allowing vessels to operate at full capacity and speeding up cargo handling operations.

The project is linked to the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. By 2028, its annual capacity is expected to increase from 6 million to 10 million tonnes. During the first five months of 2026, container traffic from China to Europe via the route increased by 30%.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov