International North-South Transport Corridor
The International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a real multimodal freight network of about 7,200 km linking India, Iran and Russia via sea, rail and road to connect Mumbai with Moscow and northern Eurasia, designed to shorten transit times and lower transport costs compared with traditional routes via the Suez Canal. It was launched by India, Iran and Russia in 2000 and later expanded to include a number of neighboring states, and freight currently moves along complementary sea and land segments through the Caspian basin and Central Asia.
According to official statements, the volume of goods shipped between India and Russia via the INSTC approximately doubled in 2024 as both sides expanded exports and improved logistics, while net transport costs on some sections reportedly fell sharply and container traffic and vessel calls rose. Indian exports moving this way include construction materials, clothing, rice and plastics, and Russian shipments via the corridor have included paper products, lumber and other industrial and food goods. Bilateral trade overall reached record highs in 2024, with India aiming to use this connectivity to reduce its trade deficit with Russia and diversify trade flows.
The corridor’s practical importance lies in offering an alternative to longer sea routes: operators report that delivery times between key ports along the INSTC can be significantly lower than via Suez, and infrastructure upgrades — including port expansion on the Caspian and new rail links through Iran — are intended to increase capacity and reliability. While energy exports still move predominantly by conventional maritime routes, the INSTC is being positioned as a strategic logistics link for a wider range of manufactured and agricultural goods, and ongoing development continues to shape its role in Russian‑Indian trade.
