During 2018, container traffic via the new Baku international sea port in Alyat grew 49% up to 23 thousand TEU, as a port representative told SeaNews at the TransRussia exhibition in Moscow.
Stage 1 of the port construction was completed last year. According to the port representative, the first stage proceeded as planned, with container throughput and passenger traffic demonstrating growth.
All in all in 2018 Alyat handled 3.8 mn tons, over 21 thousand vehicles and 43 thousand railcars. The annual capacity of the new port is 15 mn tons of cargo, including 100 thousand TEU.
In a year, the construction of stage 2 is scheduled to start. After completion, the annual capacity of the port will increase up to 25 mn tons including 500 thousand TEU. Stage 3 is also envisaged.
The old historic port in the city center of Baku is continuing operating, but, in the near future all its activities are to be transferred to Alyat.