ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — AD Ports Group and Semurg Invest LLP will partner on the construction of a greenfield grain terminal at Kuryk Port, Kazakhstan, where Semurg is the owner and developer of the Sarzha Multifunctional Marine Terminal.
United Arab Emirates-based AD Ports Group signed a foundation agreement with Semurg, a Kazakhstan development holding company, under which AD Ports Group will own a 51% stake in the partnership while Semurg holds 49%. The partnership was unveiled in August 2023.
In their Jan. 14 announcement, the companies said the Sarzha Grain Terminal at the Caspian Sea port will have the capacity to handle 570,000 tonnes of grain cargo per year after completion of phase one. With the construction of phase two, the terminal’s capacity is expected to reach 1.5 million tonnes per year.
Sarzha Grain Terminal will see a total investment of just over $50 million during the two phases, with AD Ports Group contributing about $30 million. The terminal will be situated to connect Kazakhstan via the Transcaspian International Transport Route with Europe through a network of sea and dry ports in Central Asia when phase 1 is completed in the second half of 2026.
Nurzhan Marabayev, general director of Semurg, said the project is aimed at diversifying export routes for Kazakhstan goods, increasing export and transit potential of the Transcaspian route and developing the Mangystau regional economy.
“Our partnership with AD Ports Group marks a new impulse for the development of the Middle Corridor and confirms Semurg Invest’s commitment to continue further development and execute the transport and logistics potential development roadmap until 2030 approved by the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” Marabayev said.
AD Ports Group and its subsidiaries have expanded in the Central Asian region in recent years, driven by a strategy to enhance the transportation of resources to global markets while connecting diverse regions and fostering economic growth, according to the company.
“Our partnership with Semurg marks another key milestone in AD Ports Group’s Middle Corridor strategy and reinforces our commitment to global food security and the UAE’s National Strategy for Food Security,” said Abdulaziz Zayed Al Shamsi, regional chief executive officer of AD Ports Group. “This investment demonstrates our Group’s dedication to expanding our presence in Central Asia, and in Kazakhstan in particular.
“Sarzha Grain Terminal will not only boost grain trade and handling at Kuryk Port but also, by leveraging modern technologies and sustainable practices, we aim to establish a resilient and reliable food supply chain to meet the growing demand of the global population. This project embodies our commitment to innovation, sustainability and strategic growth.”