Caspian container shipping rates rise in September

Freight rates for container transit across the Caspian Sea ticked higher in September 2026 compared with August, driven primarily by surging bunker fuel costs and persistent volatility along alternate Eurasian maritime routes, according to pricing agency Argus.

Shipping a 40-foot high-cube container (40HC) from Xi'an, China, to Azerbaijan's Alat or Absheron logistics hubs rose to $6,750–$7,200, up from $6,700–$7,100 in August, with select small operators quoting up to $7,300 per unit. Rates for onward delivery via Azerbaijan to the Turkish ports of Ambarli and Mersin moved up slightly to $7,200–$8,000, while tariffs to Tbilisi and Poti held steady at $6,900–$7,200. Transit times along the Xi'an – Altynkol – Aktau – Alat – Absheron corridor remained stable at 14 to 19 days.

The price rise was chiefly propelled by escalating marine bunker prices in the Caspian and Black Seas, alongside shipowner hesitance to navigate southern Black Sea sectors. Downward pressure from competing corridors, such as the Northern Sea Route, continues to cap more aggressive tariff hikes. Equipment supplies remain ample, with an estimated 3,500–3,700 empty containers idling across logistics yards in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan at the end of September.