Corridors & Network
INSTC — International North–South Transport Corridor
The southern gateway: from Indian and Gulf ports through Iran to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and onward north.
- Route
- India / Gulf → Bandar Abbas → Iran (rail/road) → Turkmenistan / Kazakhstan / Caspian → Central Asia / Russia
- Best for
- Indian steel, pipes, equipment and pharma to Central Asia
- Border points & gateways
- Bandar AbbasSarakhs (Iran–Turkmenistan)Bolashak (Kazakhstan rail)Anzali / Amirabad (Caspian)Aktau
- Transit time
- Transit-time ranges are published for each corridor only after internal validation, because corridor performance changes frequently. Ask us for the current range for your routing.
- Rail
- Road
- Sea / Caspian
- Air (dashed)
- Office
- Port
- Border crossing
The Route
The INSTC links the Indian Ocean to Central Asia and the Caspian. Cargo from Nhava Sheva, Mundra or Jebel Ali reaches Bandar Abbas, moves by rail or road across Iran, and continues either overland through Turkmenistan into Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan — including the Bolashak rail crossing — or across the Caspian from Anzali and Amirabad to Aktau.
The corridor rewards careful counterparty and compliance work. Routings, banking arrangements and carrier selection are checked against the sanctions position applicable to the cargo and the parties at the time of shipment — a check we make on every INSTC enquiry before quoting.
Suitable Cargo
Steel and line pipe
Indian steel products and pipe for oil & gas and infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Equipment
Machinery and project equipment from Indian manufacturers, including break bulk via Bandar Abbas.
Pharma and consumer goods
Containerised cargo where the INSTC transit compares favourably with routing via the Gulf and Türkiye.
Documentation
- Ocean bill of lading to Bandar Abbas; Iranian transit documentation and rail or CMR documents onward.
- SMGS consignment notes on the Turkmen and Kazakh railways; EAEU import declarations at Kazakh entry.
- Sanctions and dual-use screening of cargo, parties and carriers before booking.
Advantages and Constraints
| Advantages | Constraints |
|---|---|
| A direct southern route from India and the Gulf that avoids the long ocean routing via Europe or China. | Compliance screening is essential and can restrict routings, carriers and payment arrangements. |
| Rail connections through Turkmenistan to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. | Infrastructure and border capacity vary; transit times are less predictable than on the China Land Bridge. |
| Caspian branch offers an alternative when overland capacity is short. | Caspian vessel schedules and Iranian port capacity govern the northern leg. |
Services and Industries on This Corridor
Related services
Industries
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