Kazakhstan and Russia to Expand Rail Freight Volumes, Including China-Europe Transit

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway operator, and Russian Railways (RZD) are preparing to boost cargo transportation volumes in the second half of 2025 and into 2026, according to a statement released by KTZ. On July 21, KTZ Chairman of the Board Talgat Aldybergenov met in Moscow with Oleg Belozerov, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Russian Railways, to assess the implementation of their Strategic Partnership Agreement, signed in November 2024 in Astana. The agreement outlines plans to modernize railway infrastructure at nine key border crossings, expand capacity, and introduce a unified digital logistics system aimed at improving efficiency and cross-border freight operations. Boosting Rail Throughput During the July 21 meeting, the two sides signed a protocol to enhance operations at interstate junction points. Under the new framework, train throughput is expected to rise by 30%, from 65 to 85 train pairs per day, beginning in the second half of this year. They also discussed increasing freight volumes along the eastern branch of the North-South International Transport Corridor, which traverses Kazakhstan and connects Russia with Turkmenistan and Iran. With a current annual cargo capacity of 10 million tons, the corridor is gaining prominence as a strategic trade route. Advancing China-Europe Rail Transit KTZ and RZD further agreed to accelerate the automation of rail transit between China and Europe. Key upgrades will include the automatic registration of transit declarations and integration with the information systems of Russian and Belarusian railway operators. According to KTZ, freight volumes have continued to rise steadily. In the first half of 2025, total rail cargo volume surpassed 45 million tons, representing a 4.1% year-on-year increase. Container transit reached 273,300 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), marking an 18% rise compared to the same period in 2024.

Zhetysu Terminal in Almaty to Welcome First China-Europe Freight Train

Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), has announced that the new Zhetysu container terminal in Almaty will receive its first container train on June 10. The train departed from the joint Kazakh-Chinese cargo terminal in Xi’an, China, on June 1. The Zhetysu terminal is set to become Almaty’s largest container hub for the consolidation and distribution of Chinese goods, handling cargo transported by both rail and road. It will offer comprehensive logistics services, including warehousing, customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery on a "first and last mile" basis. Strategically located at the intersection of major international transport routes, Zhetysu is expected to play a key role in facilitating cargo movement along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), a growing trade corridor connecting China and Europe via Kazakhstan. Strategic Synergy with Xi’an Terminal The terminal will operate in coordination with the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Xi’an, which became operational in February 2024. That facility has an annual handling capacity of 133,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), significantly boosting bilateral trade and transit freight volumes. In related news, KTZ reported that the 100,000th container, measured in TEU, has now departed from Xi’an along the TITR. The train, comprising 50 containers, is carrying electronics, furniture, and consumer goods bound for European markets.