Total cargo handling at the Turkmenbashi International Seaport increased by 10% year on year in January–March 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, Argus reported on Thursday.

The main growth was driven by higher unloading volumes of Turkmen oil delivered to the Turkmenbashi Complex of Oil Refineries, as well as exports of sulfur, part of which was redirected from the Iranian route.

Total transit cargo through Turkmen ports rose by 23% year on year in the first quarter. The key factor was increased urea shipments from Karabogaz and the handling of liquid cargo via Okarem.

The rise in sulfur transit was linked to a rerouting of supplies in March from Iran to Azerbaijan and further to Black Sea ports in Georgia, including Poti and Batumi. Market participants noted that strong sulfur prices in the Black Sea region, which rose by 35% since early March, supported these shipments.

The Turkmenbashi International Seaport is the largest and one of the most modern ports on the Caspian Sea. Its infrastructure includes a ferry and passenger terminal, a container terminal, and terminals for general cargo, bulk cargo and polypropylene.