Elvira Kadyrova
The largest logistics operator in Belarus, “Beltamozhservice”, has announced the launch of an accelerated container rail service for cargo delivery to Iran.
The new route follows the eastern branch of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) through Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. Delivery time is just 13–15 days, making it one of the fastest and most competitive options for exporters. Containers are delivered by road to the departure station and loaded onto railway platforms.
“Today, this route allows us to diversify our exports, strengthen the position of our exporters on the international market, and expand the geography of supplies for Belarusian products,” said Natalia Kananovich, Deputy Director General of RUP Beltamozhservice, in an interview with the STV channel.
The service launch comes amid an active reorientation of Belarusian foreign trade. In the context of Western sanctions, Belarus is consistently seeking new markets and logistics routes. According to data for the first quarter of 2025, the trade with Asian countries grew by 40%, with African countries — by twofold, and with Latin American countries — by 1.8 times. The top 10 trading partners of Belarus include Russia, China, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, India, Brazil, and Uzbekistan.
Particularly notable is the growth with India: over the first seven months of 2025, trade turnover increased 1.7 times, while exports rose 2.7 times.
The rail route via Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan strengthens the position of Belarusian manufacturers in mechanical engineering, chemical, and woodworking industries, which traditionally focus on exporting tractors, fertilizers, timber products, and equipment.
The INSTC, in whose development Russia, Iran, India, and other countries (including Belarus as a participant) are actively involved, is positioned as an alternative to traditional maritime routes via the Suez Canal.
The eastern branch of the corridor, used by the new service, has already proven its effectiveness: from January to October 2025, over 2,300 containers in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were transported along the route, exceeding the indicators for the same period of the previous year.
The new Beltamozhservice service is not only a logistics solution but also a strategic step toward strengthening Eurasian ties. It will enable Belarusian exporters to access growing markets in the South and East more quickly, compensating for losses in the European direction.
At the same time, the success of any logistics depends on the efficiency of “soft infrastructure” and coordination with corridor partners: for example, tariff unification and the speed of customs clearance.///nCa, 17 December 2025 (photo credit – Belta.by)