Iran Shifts Russian Wheat Imports to Caspian as Black Sea Route Stalls

Iran is steadily redirecting its imports of Russian wheat through the Caspian Sea, as shipments via the Black Sea are disrupted by Ukrainian drone attacks and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, analysts said.

Iran ranks among the largest buyers of Russian wheat, and purchases through the Caspian ports of Makhachkala and Astrakhan have been climbing this year. Alexander Sharov, head of the RusIranExpo consultancy, said smaller traders from both countries are conducting the purchases in small cargoes, with Iran's wheat purchases estimated at 200,000 metric tons in the marketing season that began in July.

Another analyst, who declined to be identified, predicted that Russian wheat exports to Iran via the Caspian would rise further as Black Sea trade is disrupted and the Strait of Hormuz remains virtually closed during the Iran war. Russia and Ukraine have been launching drone attacks on each other in the Black Sea, unsettling shipping in the region.

According to the consultancy Ikar, Iran is the fourth biggest buyer of Russian wheat so far this season, after Egypt, Azerbaijan and Kenya. Iran last month became the top buyer of Russian grain overall, mainly barley and corn, which it traditionally imports through Caspian Sea terminals.

ProZerno consultancy data show that as of September 8, Iran had bought 913,000 metric tons of grain, with corn accounting for about half and barley about a third, overtaking Egypt as Russia's top customer.