In contrast to the overall slowdown of Russia’s container market in 2025, the Azov–Black Sea basin has emerged as a key growth area. According to market data, container throughput in the region grew by 8% in January–July 2025, while the nationwide market shrank by almost 6%.
Why the region is growing
Experts note several factors driving this growth:
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Diversification of cargo flows. More importers are rerouting shipments to southern ports as capacity remains constrained in the Far East.
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Automotive cargo. Despite an overall decline in vehicle imports, some volumes are shifting to the Black Sea routes for distribution into Central and Southern Russia.
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Infrastructure upgrades. Local terminals in Novorossiysk and surrounding ports have expanded capacity, offering additional resilience compared to saturated Far Eastern hubs.
Impact of macro factors
The decline in the national market is largely linked to:
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Overstocked car inventories from 2024.
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High key interest rates from the Central Bank, which reduced consumer demand.
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Seasonal factors, including weak summer activity and a slowdown in purchasing power.
However, since June 2025, the Central Bank has started to gradually lower rates, creating preconditions for renewed import activity by the end of the year. This gives ports in the Azov–Black Sea region an advantage as companies seek faster and more flexible supply chains.
Business implications
For international forwarders, the shift signals:
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Stronger opportunities in Novorossiysk and surrounding terminals.
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Need to adapt to changing traffic flows, where the Black Sea is increasingly balancing Far Eastern capacity.
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Prospects for stable demand in LCL and reefer cargo, given the region’s role as a gateway for food, consumer goods, and equipment.
Growex’s perspective
At Growex, we continue to strengthen our presence in southern Russia, offering clients reliable container shipping solutions through Novorossiysk. Our multimodal services ensure that partners from China, Turkey, and beyond can benefit from this regional growth while minimizing risks in other corridors.
