Russia Reopens Caspian Wheat Route to Iran

Russia resumed wheat shipments to Iran via the Caspian Sea for the first time in years, signaling a strategic shift in regional trade routes as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East disrupt traditional supply chains.

Shipping and agricultural data show that Moscow exported food-grade wheat to Iran during the first quarter of 2026, it will pass through Caspian Sea ports, in a move that reflects the growing reliance on this alternative route away from the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, which have been affected by the ongoing war in the region.

For years, Iran relied on Russian wheat shipped via the Black Sea, while its imports of barley and corn were already arriving via the Caspian Sea. The latest figures suggest that wheat has now joined that corridor, marking a notable expansion in bilateral trade logistics.

In the first quarter alone, Russia supplied Iran with 500,000 tons of feed corn, 180,000 tons of feed barley, and more than 4,000 tons of milling wheat

Iran currently ranks as the third-largest buyer of Russian wheat this season, underscoring the growing importance of the trade relationship.

Industry data also revealed that Russia exported around 300,000 tons of grain shipments across the Caspian Sea during March alone were significantly higher than in the same period last year, when export restrictions were still in place

“Caspian ports had not handled wheat exports for more than eight years,” said Alexander Sharov, head of the RusIran Expo consultancy, highlighting the significance of the development.

Meanwhile, shipments from Russia’s Astrakhan region surged by 61% to reach 730,000 tons in the first quarter, with Iran absorbing the bulk of these volumes.

The reopening of the Caspian wheat route points to a broader realignment in Eurasian trade flows, as Moscow and Tehran deepen economic ties while navigating a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.