Caspian Sea - The Times Of Central Asia

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Archaeology

Kazakhstan’s Ancient Karakabak Reveals New Silk Road Links

Archaeologists studying the ancient settlement of Karakabak in Kazakhstan’s Mangistau Region say new findings show the site was part of ancient trade routes linking East and West. The archaeological site is located in Tupkaragan District on the Caspian Sea coast and dates to the 1st to 6th centuries AD. It was first discovered in 2006 during the compilation of Mangistau’s official register of historical monuments by the Mangistau State Historical and Cultural Reserve. Since 2022, excavations and research at Karakabak have been carried out by the Margulan Institute of Archaeology. Researchers have published 24 academic works based on materials from the site, including three monographs and nine articles indexed in the Scopus database. The site was recently visited by scientists and archaeologists working on projects to develop Mangistau’s tourism potential. During the field visit, participants reviewed excavation results and discussed additional research, as well as possible inclusion of Karakabak in regional tourism routes. According to researchers, Karakabak served for several centuries as a center of craft production and trade. Finds point to metallurgy, jewelry-making, glassmaking, and ceramic production. Archaeologists have uncovered locally produced goods as well as imported materials from across Eurasia. [caption id="attachment_50477" align="aligncenter" width="1087"] @gov.kz[/caption] “Of particular scientific interest is a collection of more than 150 coins dating from the 1st century to the first half of the 6th century AD,” archaeologist Andrey Astafyev said. “Among them are issues from Parthia, Ancient Khorezm, Bukhara Sogd, Sasanian Iran, the Kushano-Sasanian state, the Byzantine Empire and China. These finds confirm Karakabak’s active participation in the international trade and economic networks of its time.” Scholars now regard Karakabak as a major ancient trade and transport hub. Researchers believe one branch of the Silk Road may have passed through Mangistau, connecting Central Asia, the Caspian region, and Eastern Europe. Researchers are also studying a possible Azov-Caspian trade corridor that was previously unknown. Based on the findings, Karakabak may have been one of the centers in this network. Evidence points to contacts with the North Caucasus, the Azov region, the Lower and Middle Volga, the Southern Urals, as well as states in Central Asia and the Middle East. “Karakabak allows us to look at the history of Mangistau and Kazakhstan’s place in ancient international communications from a new perspective,” Astafyev said. “The archaeological evidence confirms that this region served for centuries as an important link in trade routes connecting East and West.” The recent discovery of an ancient jug, preliminarily dated to the 6th century AD, has drawn additional attention to the site. Specialists hope its study will provide new insights into the daily life and craft traditions of the settlement’s inhabitants. Researchers are also exploring a possible connection between Karakabak and the ancient city of Aspabota, which was marked on the maps of Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy as a settlement on the eastern Caspian coast. [caption id="attachment_50478" align="aligncenter" width="720"] @gov.kz[/caption] Scholars say discoveries in recent years have expanded understanding of Mangistau’s historical importance. They confirm that the region was part of trade...

Caspian Sea

Kazakhstan and Russia to Launch Ferry Service for Trucks Across Caspian Sea

Kazakhstan’s port of Kuryk and Russia’s port of Makhachkala have signed an agreement to organize a vehicle ferry service across the Caspian Sea, according to Kazakhstan’s national railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy. The collaboration aims to attract cargo flows currently moving from China through Central Asia and the port of Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan to the Kuryk-Makhachkala route. The port of Kuryk is located on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, south of the port of Aktau. Its ferry complex is focused on the transshipment of grain, petroleum products, fertilizers, chemicals, and other cargo. The port of Makhachkala is Russia’s only ice-free deepwater port on the Caspian Sea, serving as a link in the transport system between southern Russia and the countries of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Iran. The Kuryk-Makhachkala route creates additional logistical options for cargo transportation across the Caspian region. The route also adds another Caspian Sea connection to regional transport networks. Unlike the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or Middle Corridor, which links China and Europe through Central Asia and the South Caucasus while bypassing Russia, the Kuryk-Makhachkala route adds a Russian component to Caspian transit logistics. To ensure year-round navigation and strengthen competitiveness, Kazakhstan is investing in infrastructure on the Caspian Sea coast. Dredging has been carried out at Kuryk Port, while similar work is planned at Aktau Port to increase depth and improve vessel access. Construction is also underway at Kuryk on the Sarzha multifunctional terminal, a project being implemented in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Ports Group from the United Arab Emirates. The terminal is expected to have an annual capacity of five million tons. Under Kazakhstan’s comprehensive maritime infrastructure development plan for 2024-2028, the country intends to establish a major transport and logistics cluster based on the ports of Aktau and Kuryk. The plan includes expanding container handling capacity, developing cargo terminals and international shipping logistics, and reducing administrative barriers. By 2028, total cargo throughput at the ports is expected to increase by 50%, while container handling volumes are projected to triple.

Caspian Sea

Kazakhstan Channels Billions of Cubic Meters Into Caspian Sea

Kazakhstan has channeled 6.16 billion cubic meters of water into the Caspian Sea since the beginning of 2026 as regional governments confront mounting concerns over the long-term decline of the world’s largest inland body of water. The figure was announced by Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, who said more than 35 billion cubic meters of water had been channeled into the Caspian Sea over the past two and a half years. Nearly half of that volume, more than 17 billion cubic meters, came from floodwaters redirected from the Zhaiyk, or Ural, River during the severe spring floods that affected northern and western Kazakhstan in 2024. The Caspian Sea, bordered by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan, has experienced a sustained decline in water levels in recent decades, raising concerns about both environmental degradation and economic losses across the region. TCA has previously reported that the Caspian Sea fell to its lowest recorded level in July last year, with the northern basin bordering Kazakhstan and Russia shrinking particularly rapidly. This poses both ecological and economic risks, including pressure on marine ecosystems, port infrastructure, fisheries and coastal settlements. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, there is increasing evidence that water levels in the Caspian could continue to fall significantly over the next half-century. Researchers say the decline is driven by a combination of factors, including reduced river inflows, changing precipitation patterns and increasing evaporation linked to rising temperatures and shifting wind regimes. Historically, the Caspian Sea has experienced substantial fluctuations in water levels. During the 20th century alone, levels varied by more than three meters. After reaching a historic low in 1977, the sea recovered by approximately 2.5 meters between 1978 and 1995 before entering another prolonged decline. UNEP researchers note that the downward trend has accelerated since 2006. Scientists stress that coordinated regional research is needed to better understand the interaction between climate change, river discharge, water consumption, evaporation and other factors influencing the Caspian’s future. The challenge has prompted increasing calls for cooperation among the five littoral states. Such collaboration is formally guided by the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, commonly known as the Tehran Convention, which was signed by all five countries in 2003 and entered into force in 2006. Kazakhstan has also sought to frame water management as a broader strategic issue. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation says the country’s updated Water Code requires industrial enterprises to prepare five-year plans for switching to recycled water supply, while the pace of introducing water-saving irrigation technologies rose from about 30,000 hectares a year before 2024 to 150,000 hectares annually in 2024 and 2025.

agricultural exports

Kazakhstan’s Agricultural Exports to Iran Nearly Double in 2025

Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to Iran nearly doubled in 2025, driven by a sharp increase in grain shipments, Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov said during talks with Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Seyyed Mohammad Atabak. According to Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Ministry, agricultural trade between the two countries rose 55.8% year-on-year to $342 million in 2025, accounting for 79% of total bilateral trade. Exports of Kazakhstan's agricultural products increased 97% to $238.5 million. Grain exports more than doubled to 1.1 million metric tons, valued at $225.3 million, Saparov said. “Kazakhstan attaches special importance to expanding cooperation with Iran in the agricultural sector. Our markets complement each other, as demonstrated by the steady growth in bilateral agricultural trade,” he said. The ministers discussed prospects for expanding trade in agricultural products, investment cooperation, and the development of joint projects in the agro-industrial sector. Particular attention was given to increasing Kazakhstan's exports of grain, beef, and lamb that meet international veterinary and halal standards. The two sides also highlighted the potential for expanding supplies of vegetable oils and other food products to the Iranian market. Atabak said Iran was interested in expanding economic ties with Kazakhstan, including through increased agricultural trade, improved transport links, and joint processing projects. “Kazakhstan is an important partner for Iran in the region. We are interested in increasing bilateral trade, expanding agricultural supplies, developing logistics routes, and implementing joint projects in processing and agro-industrial cooperation,” he said. Saparov also invited Iranian investors to participate in projects involving agricultural production and value-added processing, including grain and oilseed processing facilities. The growth in agricultural trade comes despite disruptions to some bilateral projects earlier this year. In April, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov said several joint projects with Iran had been suspended because of military hostilities there. Trade ties have nevertheless continued to expand. In May, Kazakhstan's vegetable oil producers launched pilot shipments of rapeseed and sunflower oil to Iran via the Caspian Sea, opening a new export route for the sector. Kazakhstan and Iran have set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to $1 billion in the coming years, with plans to double that figure over the longer term, following agreements reached during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Astana last year.

Trans-Caspian Route

Kazakhstan to Develop Maritime Component of Trans-Caspian Transport Route

Kazakhstan’s national railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), is moving to build its own maritime fleet to expand the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). Also known as the Middle Corridor, the TITR is a multimodal transport corridor linking China and Europe through Central Asia and the South Caucasus, offering an alternative to routes that pass through Russia. KTZ Express Shipping, a subsidiary of KTZ, has signed contracts for the construction of six general-purpose dry cargo container ships. Agreements have been concluded with China’s Jiangsu Haizhongzhou Shipping Industry Co., Ltd. for the construction of four vessels and with Azerbaijan’s Baku Shipyard for the construction of two. The vessels will be river-sea ships with a deadweight of up to 9,900 tons and a capacity of up to 537 TEUs, adapted for operations on both the Caspian and Black Sea routes. This is expected to support the integration of the maritime segment into the TITR’s multimodal logistics chain. The ships will be equipped with modern navigation systems in line with international requirements and environmental standards. Their safety, reliability, and environmental performance are expected to enhance their suitability for international routes and increase confidence among global shippers. The project is intended to give Kazakhstan a larger role in the TITR by establishing a sustainable maritime component of the route. Kazakhstan’s maritime transport sector has recorded steady growth in recent years. In 2025, maritime cargo volumes reached 8 million tons, a 7% increase compared to 2024. Container traffic through Kazakh seaports rose by 29% to 90,637 TEUs, while cargo volumes transported along the TITR increased by 36%. Under the country’s comprehensive maritime infrastructure development plan for 2024-2028, Kazakhstan intends to establish a major transport and logistics cluster based on the ports of Aktau and Kuryk. The plan includes expanding container handling capacity, developing cargo terminals and international shipping logistics, and reducing administrative barriers. By 2028, total cargo throughput at the ports is expected to increase by 50%, while container handling volumes are projected to triple. Plans are also in place to increase container traffic along the TITR, including the transit of 600 container trains from China through Kazakhstan this year. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, freight volumes transported along the Middle Corridor through Kazakhstan have grown more than five times over the past seven years, increasing from 0.8 million tonnes to 4.5 million tonnes annually.

Regional Ecological Summit

Kazakhstan President Highlights New Constitution and Calls for Fair Global Ecological Cooperation at Astana Summit

Astana, Kazakhstan – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev used his opening address at the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana to underline Kazakhstan’s strengthened constitutional commitment to environmental protection and to call for fair, pragmatic, and unified global cooperation on ecological challenges. Speaking on Earth Day before regional leaders and senior United Nations representatives, Tokayev described ecology as far more than climate policy alone. “It is the very foundation of human livelihood,” he said. “It is about clean air and safe water, healthy soils and secure food systems. It is about the stability of communities and the dignity of future generations. It is also about clarity of thought, harmony of our societies, and their happiness.” The President said Kazakhstan’s new Constitution clearly reflects environmental protection as a fundamental priority of state policy and public responsibility. He described this constitutional commitment as embedding ecological safety and prosperity into the country’s long-term vision and “national DNA.” Tokayev warned against double standards in international environmental policy, saying developing and emerging economies must not be placed at a disadvantage as the world moves toward cleaner growth models. “The global transition to cleaner models must be fair, balanced, and stimulating,” he stated. Environmental cooperation, he added, should unite rather than divide nations and must be based on partnership, trust, and shared responsibility, “with no naming, no shaming, and no blaming.” Stressing the need for consistency in international norms, Tokayev also said: “The UN Charter is not Haute Cuisine, and cannot serve as a cherry-picking platform.” The President identified the region’s most urgent shared ecological challenges as water scarcity and poor water management, desertification, glacier retreat, air pollution, and biodiversity vulnerability. “The time for indicating successes is over; the time for making solutions has come,” he said. Tokayev then outlined concrete steps Kazakhstan is taking across several priority areas. On energy transition, he said Kazakhstan intends to increase the share of renewable energy to 15% by 2030 while reducing emissions by almost 35%. Renewable sources already generate more than 7% of Kazakhstan’s electricity, and the country is moving to expand clean generation capacity while modernizing major energy facilities. As the world’s leading uranium exporter, Kazakhstan is also advancing plans for its first nuclear power plant while introducing cleaner technologies at coal-fired generation sites. On water security, Tokayev highlighted the restoration of the Northern Aral Sea, where about 36% of the water surface has been recovered, improving water quality and fish stocks. He described the Aral tragedy as a warning for the wider region and the international community. “The Aral Sea remains a stark reminder of the consequences of unsustainable policies,” he said. He also pointed to a new interstate program aimed at preventing further degradation of the Caspian Sea, supported by a dedicated scientific research institute. Tokayev renewed his proposal, first advanced in Ashgabat last December, to establish an International Water Organization as a United Nations agency, and said the summit would host the first round of international consultations on the initiative. Addressing the Caspian region more broadly, Tokayev...