Anzali Port
Anzali Port is an active Caspian Sea port in Bandar Anzali, Gilan Province, operating within the Anzali Free Trade and Industrial Zone. It connects Caspian shipping with rail, road and Ro-Ro services and is reported to support regional transit through the International North–South Transit Corridor and TRACECA. Published capacity and expansion figures date principally to September 2023, so current terminal capability should be confirmed before commercial commitments.
Strategic and market-access role
Anzali Port is a core Caspian port for Gilan, with a different profile from southern ocean-facing ports because it serves regional maritime trade across the Caspian basin. In the Hormuz Graph, it links Bandar Anzali, the Anzali Free Zone, Rasht’s provincial market, and northern trade routes connected to Russia and the Caucasus-facing economy. Its relevance comes from short-sea shipping, warehousing, import-export handling, and local distribution rather than deep-sea global shipping, making it a practical node for Caspian logistics and northern market access. Anzali Port provides a northern Iranian gateway for Caspian shipping and multimodal transit, with a reported role in the International North–South Transit Corridor and TRACECA. Its location in the Anzali Free Trade and Industrial Zone may be relevant to businesses evaluating the zone’s stated tax and licensing incentives. Commercial viability remains route- and cargo-specific, requiring confirmation of current services, terminal conditions and applicable compliance obligations.
Operations, capacity & connectivity
Related use cases
Relevant for Caspian export/import routing, logistics-cost comparison, customs and compliance assessment, warehouse-location planning, partner search, and provincial opportunity analysis in Gilan. Companies can use it to evaluate whether goods should enter through Anzali, move through the free zone, or distribute inland toward Rasht, Tehran, or northwest markets. Practical decisions require verification of active routes, cargo handling, storage quality, and inland transport reliability.
Capacity and service area
Capacity: Capacity as of September 2023 was 17 berths, accommodating up to 15 ships simultaneously, with annual throughput capacity of 10–15 million tonnes. Storage and handling assets included 314,000 tonnes of grain-silo capacity, 52,000 tonnes of petrochemical-products storage, 17,500 tonnes of cooking-oil storage, and a 4,500-tonne fruit and vegetable sorting and packing facility. Service area: The port serves Caspian maritime trade and regional transit flows involving the Caucasus, CIS markets and Iran. It has also been presented as supporting movement between Scandinavia, the Caucasus, the CIS and the Persian Gulf, with onward connections toward Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Connected modes
Caspian maritime routes, rail links to the national railway network, road transport and Ro-Ro services.
Industries served
The port handles a mix of bulk and traded goods, with documented relevance to grain and agricultural products, petrochemical and fuel products, and industrial cargoes such as steel, wood, paper and minerals.
Ownership, operation & expansion
Owner and operator
Owner: Port and Marine Administration of Gilan Province, within the Iranian government structure. Operator: Port operations and cargo-handling affairs are largely managed by the private sector. Specific operators and their respective roles are not identified in the available evidence.
Expansion and development projects
As reported in September 2023, expansion plans aimed to increase berths from 17 to 22. Expansion of grain-silo capacity from 314,000 to 460,000 tonnes was reported as underway, while petrochemical-products and cooking-oil storage were described as planned for significant upgrades. Completion status and investment details are not available in the evidence.
Constraints, risk & compliance
Key risks and compliance considerations
Current availability of cargo-specific handling capacity, vessel services, berth depth and inland transport performance should be verified for individual transactions. Private-sector operating responsibilities are not fully specified in the available evidence, and cross-border trade requires transaction-specific compliance review.
Connected Intelligence
Relevant geography, industry, market and execution context for this profile.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions most likely to arise when reviewing this profile.
Who owns and operates Anzali Port?
The Port and Marine Administration of Gilan Province is identified as the owner within Iran’s government structure. Port operations and cargo handling are reported to be largely managed by the private sector, although specific operators are not identified.
What transport modes connect to Anzali Port?
Reported connections include Caspian Sea shipping, rail links to Iran’s national railway network, road transport and Ro-Ro services.
What capacity has been reported for Anzali Port?
September 2023 reporting cited 17 berths, capacity for up to 15 ships simultaneously, and annual throughput capacity of 10–15 million tonnes. These figures should be revalidated for current use.
What compliance considerations apply to using Anzali Port?
Cross-border shipments require transaction-specific review of applicable trade, customs, sanctions and counterparties’ compliance obligations. Current route, terminal and service conditions should also be confirmed before contracting.