Anzali Free Zone
Anzali Free Zone is a trade-industrial free zone in Bandar Anzali, Gilan Province, on the southern Caspian shore. Established in 2005, it incorporates the Caspian and Anzali ports, industrial estates and commercial facilities, supporting trade and export-oriented manufacturing activity within the North–South Corridor. Its geographic scope requires care: reported 2024 boundary developments indicate the zone is limited to Bandar Anzali.
Strategic and market-access role
Anzali Free Zone is significant because it combines free-zone regulation, Caspian access, warehousing, and Gilan’s commercial base near Bandar Anzali. In the Hormuz Graph, it links foreign trade flows, customs-sensitive business activity, regional distribution, and northern consumer markets. Its distinct value is the overlap between port access, free-zone licensing, and proximity to Rasht and the broader Gilan economy. It is especially relevant for companies assessing Caspian-facing trade routes, re-export structures, import staging, and logistics models under Iran-specific compliance constraints. The zone pairs Caspian maritime access with trade-industrial free-zone arrangements, including reported tax, customs-duty and value-added-tax benefits. Its two ports and industrial estates position it for businesses evaluating regional import, export and manufacturing flows through northern Iran. Commercial viability remains dependent on activity-specific licensing, logistics arrangements and compliance requirements.
Operations, capacity & connectivity
Related use cases
Useful for free-zone market screening, import-export structuring, logistics partner search, warehousing planning, customs-process assessment, and northern distribution strategy. Foreign companies can use it to compare trade-entry models, evaluate business-services availability, and test whether a Caspian-facing platform fits their supply chain. Field due diligence should verify licensing rules, land or facility availability, banking constraints, sanctions exposure, and actual port connectivity.
Capacity and service area
Capacity: The zone covered approximately 2,300 hectares and 40 km of shoreline as of 2024. It includes two industrial estates with more than 164 production and export units; this figure describes reported units, not production capacity. Service area: Bandar Anzali and the Caspian-facing trade corridor in Gilan Province.
Connected modes
Maritime access through the Caspian and Anzali ports.
Industries served
Manufacturing and export-oriented production, including agricultural processing and packaging, electronics, medical instruments, and high-tech and nano-related activities.
Ownership, operation & expansion
Opening or commissioning
2005
Expansion and development projects
Amendments to an Anzali Free Zone development bill were reportedly approved by parliament in October 2024 to address Guardian Council concerns. The available evidence does not establish the final scope, implementation status or physical outcome of any expansion.
Constraints, risk & compliance
Operational constraints
The reported 2024 boundary ruling indicates that the zone is limited to Bandar Anzali; the available evidence does not provide the ruling’s full text or detailed boundary implications.
Key risks and compliance considerations
Iran-related sanctions and compliance considerations may affect financing, counterparties, payments, shipping and trade structures. The applicability of free-zone incentives and operational requirements should be verified for each proposed activity.
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.
Where is Anzali Free Zone located?
It is located in Bandar Anzali, Gilan Province, on Iran’s southern Caspian Sea shore.
When was Anzali Free Zone established?
It was established in 2005 under the Act of Iran Free Zones.
What infrastructure does Anzali Free Zone include?
Reported facilities include the Caspian and Anzali ports, two industrial estates, commercial facilities and tourism amenities.
What compliance issues should businesses assess?
Businesses should assess activity-specific licensing, the applicability of free-zone incentives, payment and logistics arrangements, and Iran-related sanctions and compliance exposure.