Iranian trade official says Caspian shipping rates have roughly tripled on some routes
Bandani, head of the Iran Chamber’s agriculture commission, said Caspian Sea shipping rates rose from $35–$50 this spring to $130–$150, roughly tripling on some routes. He said vessel transit and turnaround times had reached 35–45 days. He cited security procedures, restrictions on Iranian ships entering Russian ports and a shortage of maritime pilots as barriers to fleet efficiency, with permits for some ports taking at least 10–12 days.