Russian exporters halt shipments via International North–South Transport Corridor

Russian exporters have begun suspending cargo shipments along the International North–South Transport Corridor due to the armed confrontation in the region, the newspaper Vedomosti reported, citing sources in several shipping companies.

According to the report, cargo dispatches along the route have been halted since February 28.

Companies from the timber industry are among those that have stopped using the corridor. One lumber exporter told the newspaper that the company suspended deliveries on February 28 and is planning to redirect its exports to markets in North Africa and Latin America.

The chemical industry is also facing serious difficulties. A source in a trading company told Vedomosti that currently only those shipments that had been dispatched before the start of the conflict or during the first days after its escalation are continuing to move along the route.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran. The strikes targeted military, administrative and strategic facilities, including port infrastructure.

In response, Tehran has carried out missile and drone strikes on Israeli territory as well as on facilities in Gulf countries hosting US military bases. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, effectively paralysing maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf.

The North–South International Transport Corridor, which stretches about 7,200 kilometres, connects Russia with markets in India, the Gulf region and Southeast Asia via Iran.

In September, Iran transferred a plot of land to Russia needed for the construction of the Rasht–Astara railway, a key section of the corridor. Approximately half of the land required for the 162-kilometre railway segment has already been purchased, and the acquisition process is expected to be completed by the end of March 2026.

By Tamilla Hasanova