The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide up to €35 million to upgrade the handling facilities of the port of Aktau, Kazakhstan’s key transit hub on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. The project is part of the development of the trans-Caspian logistics corridor, which will ensure stable transportation between Europe and Central Asia. The European Union may also provide a grant of up to €10 million through the regional APIF, bringing the total funding to €45 million.
The funds will be used to expand two port berths and acquire modern quayside cranes. According to the EBRD, container traffic through Aktau increased by 121% from January to September 2025 compared to the same period last year.
The modernization will allow the port to double its container handling capacity and utilize two dedicated container berths with separate handling lanes. It is planned that the processing time for one container will be reduced from 4 to 2.5 minutes, which will increase the port’s efficiency and throughput.