The Annual Retreat of the Caspian Sea for the Maritime Trade of North of the Country
From the Increase in Freight to the Decrease in Business Volume
According to the information of National Cartographic Center of Iran (NCC) and the port index reading system, the water level of the Caspian Sea has decreased by about 35 cm during the last year.
In such a way that from April 2023 to April 2024, the water level of the Caspian Sea compared to the free level of the world’s waters has reached negative from 27.90 to 25.28, and last year we witnessed the lowest water level in the Caspian Sea in the last 30 years.
According to the water depth, the access channel and the base of the port skeleton, the ships adjust their water intake and the amount of ship load should decrease or increase according to the port water intake requirement. Thus, if the water inlet of the port is large, the ship can take more cargo.
Also, risks such as the threat of pirates or the illegal seizure of ships’ cargoes, along with geopolitical tensions, continuously affect the fluctuations of the sea freight market in the aforementioned areas. Continuation of conflicts and resulting sanctions and restrictions can also lead to sudden changes in loading ports and the choice of longer and safer routes, increasing the risk and costs of sea transportation and subsequently disrupting the regular food supply chain.
