freight transport - The Times Of Central Asia

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Freight Industry

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Boost Rail Freight to 32.3 Million Tons

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have agreed on new measures to expand rail freight capacity as Astana works toward increasing overall transit volumes to 55 million tons. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, the agreement was reached during a meeting between the transport ministers of the two countries, where they discussed further cooperation in the railway sector. The talks were held as part of Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to strengthen its role as a key transit hub in Central Asia. Both sides emphasized the strategic importance of rail connections between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, describing them as central to trade growth, international transit flows, and regional transport integration. Officials also pointed to the strong potential for increasing freight volumes and improving the efficiency of logistics corridors linking the two economies. By the end of 2025, rail freight transportation between the two countries reached 32.3 million tons, representing a 16% increase compared to 2024, the ministry said. To maintain steady growth and achieve agreed capacity targets, the parties adopted a joint action plan focused on infrastructure development at key border crossings, including Saryagash, Oasis, and Syrdarya. The plan also provides for the completion of major railway projects, including the Darbaza-Maktaaral section. Currently, up to 36 pairs of trains pass daily through the Saryagash crossing, with plans to increase that figure to 40. At the Oasis junction, traffic is expected to grow from two to 10 train pairs per day. Through Syrdarya, volumes are projected to reach 10 train pairs daily following the launch of the Darbaza-Maktaaral line. During the meeting, the ministers also reviewed the synchronization of infrastructure upgrades and maintenance work, improvements to border control procedures, and measures to optimize operational coordination in order to raise overall transport efficiency. Last month, Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, announced that its Jibek Joly, or Silk Road, tourist train route would be extended to Dushanbe for the first time, linking cities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with Tajikistan’s capital. The inaugural journey on the expanded route is scheduled to depart from Almaty on March 20, 2026, coinciding with Nauryz celebrations across the region.

Freight Industry

Kyrgyzstan Launches e-Permit System for Freight Transport to China and Turkic States

Kyrgyzstan has launched a new digital system for international freight transport, replacing paper permits with an electronic platform for cross-border trucking to China and several Turkic states. The Ministry of Transport and Communications introduced the e-Permit system in January 2026, allowing domestic carriers to obtain permits online for shipments to China, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. Previously, Kyrgyzstan and China operated under a fixed annual quota of paper permits exchanged on a parity basis; 130,000 permits were issued in 2025 alone. The digital platform eliminates in-person applications, significantly reducing queues and administrative burden. According to the ministry, the new system has cut processing times from up to 24 hours to just 10 minutes. Officials say it enhances transparency, improves administrative efficiency, and helps reduce the risk of corruption. Regional Logistics Strategy The launch of e-Permit is part of Kyrgyzstan’s broader effort to position itself as a regional logistics hub. Authorities view streamlined cross-border transport procedures as essential to boosting trade, especially as the country expands its economic ties with neighboring and Turkic states. Integration with TRACECA The e-Permit rollout follows Kyrgyzstan’s December 2025 accession to the multilateral permit system of the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA). Membership in TRACECA allows Kyrgyz carriers to conduct bilateral and transit shipments using a single multilateral permit across participating countries, including Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine. Officials say the integration will lower transport costs, reduce delivery times, and facilitate broader access for Kyrgyz exports to European, Turkish, and Black Sea markets.

Transport and Logistics

Kyrgyzstan’s Rail Freight Turnover Emerges from Years of Stagnation

Kyrgyzstan’s rail transport sector is showing sustained growth after years of stagnation. By the end of 2025, the state-owned railway operator Kyrgyz Temir Zholu reported transporting 10 million tons of cargo, the highest volume in the company’s history. Just a few years ago, the country’s annual rail freight volume hovered around 7 million tons. The turning point came in 2022, and by 2024, the figure had already reached 9.2 million tons. Surpassing the 10 million ton milestone in 2025 has further solidified the sector’s recovery. Kyrgyz Temir Zholu acknowledged that prior to 2022, the national railway industry was largely unprofitable and in urgent need of systemic modernization. Early reforms focused not on major infrastructure projects but on managerial and institutional restructuring. “The main focus was on digitalizing processes, minimizing human error, preventing corruption, reducing costs, revising regulatory frameworks, and modernizing repair facilities and railway infrastructure,” the company stated. International partnerships have also played a key role in revitalizing the sector. Under its development strategy, Kyrgyzstan opened additional multimodal transport corridors between China and Europe, significantly enhancing the country’s transit potential. Despite its growth, Kyrgyzstan’s railway network remains one of the most compact in the region. It spans just 425 kilometers and includes 28 operational stations, divided into two geographically isolated segments: north and south. The northern section, 323.4 kilometers long, connects Rybachye station (in Balykchy) with Turksib in Kazakhstan and serves as a vital corridor for freight headed to Russia and other members of the Eurasian Economic Union. The southern section, 101 kilometers in length, links Kyrgyzstan with Uzbekistan’s rail network. “Both sections serve strategically important roles by ensuring Kyrgyzstan’s integration with regional transport systems and facilitating international trade,” Kyrgyz Temir Zholu noted. The growth in freight turnover has been accompanied by an ongoing digital transformation. A key milestone was the development and implementation of the Unified Transport Process Model software system, which consolidates every stage of freight transport, from planning to execution, into a single digital platform. Further momentum is expected from the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which is already underway. Authorities view the project as a long-term catalyst for boosting Kyrgyzstan’s transit capacity and strengthening its role in Eurasian logistics chains.

Logistics

U.S. Logistics Companies Look to Kyrgyzstan for Talent and Digital Solutions

Kyrgyzstan recently hosted CABXPO-2025, an international business and logistics forum that highlighted the country’s growing role as a point of interaction between Central Asia and global logistics markets. Held with the participation of the High-Tech Park, the forum brought together more than 500 companies from across the region. The Park, operational for over a decade, has become a key pillar of Kyrgyzstan’s expanding digital economy. One of the most notable aspects of CABXPO-2025 was the presence of senior executives and owners from major American freight companies. Their visit to Bishkek provided a platform for exchanging industry expertise, recruiting talent, exploring digital logistics solutions, and attracting Kyrgyz dispatchers to work with the United States freight market. According to Chubak Temirov, Deputy Director of the High-Tech Park, the forum stood out for its inclusion of investors from Silicon Valley, who expressed interest in identifying promising IT startups in Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries. Nevertheless, a large portion of attendees represented transport and logistics businesses, particularly those operating in the U.S. market. Temirov noted that long-haul truck driving remains one of the most in-demand professions among Kyrgyz labor migrants heading to the U.S. and Europe. In recent years, several Kyrgyz nationals have successfully established their own transport companies in the U.S., managing fleets of hundreds of trucks. These examples of social mobility have become an important source of motivation for younger generations. [caption id="attachment_41411" align="alignnone" width="300"] @TCA[/caption] At the expo, several American companies with Kyrgyz roots were actively recruiting. Many base their dispatch operations in Bishkek or Osh while managing freight movements across the U.S. Forum participants were able to enroll in two-month dispatcher training programs, with company representatives offering employment upon completion. Aidar Abitov, a representative of a U.S.-based freight carrier, told The Times of Central Asia that his company operates more than 600 trucks and continues to expand. While the physical transportation takes place in the U.S., the company’s dispatch and technical support operations are located in Bishkek. Employees undergo training in areas such as cargo booking, transport coordination, and working with brokers, becoming official members of the U.S. company without leaving Kyrgyzstan. English proficiency remains a key requirement. The company’s medium-term goal is to support a fleet of 1,000 trucks. The forum also drew attention to IT innovations from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. A team from Tashkent showcased real-time software for monitoring cargo and vehicle fleets. The system tracks truck locations, vehicle condition, and driver behavior, including signs of fatigue or drowsiness. According to the developers, their solutions are already in use by thousands of logistics companies in the U.S., managing tens of thousands of trucks. One of the developers, Azimjon Akhmadjonov, told The Times of Central Asia that participating in CABXPO was primarily an opportunity to exchange ideas and build professional networks. He highlighted the role of such events in connecting Kyrgyz and Uzbek professionals working in the United States and in helping form a cross-border community of experts. The Kyrgyz government has positioned forums such as CABXPO as...

Border Incident

Traffic Jam of 1,500 Trucks Reported at Kazakhstan-China Border Crossing

Approximately 1,500 freight trucks have been stranded at the Nur Zholy border checkpoint between Kazakhstan and China, Nur.kz has reported, citing the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Kazakhstan. According to the SRC, the congestion occurred despite a prior agreement with China to allow at least 800 trucks to pass through the crossing daily, with plans to increase that figure to 1,000 by year-end. However, from November 8 to 12, the actual number of vehicles processed by the Chinese side averaged only 700 to 750 per day. This shortfall was cited as the primary reason for the backlog on the Kazakh side. Compounding the issue, repair and installation work at the Kalzhat-Dulaty crossing significantly reduced its capacity for about a week. As a result, part of the freight traffic was diverted to Nur Zholy, placing additional pressure on its infrastructure. To alleviate the congestion, authorities have implemented a temporary adjustment to the electronic queue system. Starting November 13, daily vehicle entries will be capped at 650 to ensure a more balanced distribution of traffic and to support operational stability. The SRC stated that the situation is under constant monitoring and that negotiations with Chinese officials have resulted in mutual agreement on measures to improve border throughput. In May, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued a formal reprimand to then Transport Minister Marat Karabayev for persistent problems at border crossings and delays in key transit infrastructure projects. Karabayev was dismissed from his post the following month.

Railways

Turkmenistan and Iran to Build Dual-Gauge Rail Lines at Sarakhs Border Crossing

Turkmenistan and Iran have agreed to construct two new railway lines at the Sarakhs border crossing to enhance freight transport between the two countries, Iranian Railways chief Jabbar Ali Zakeri announced following talks with Turkmenistan’s Minister of Railways, Mammet Akmammedov. The agreement was reached during bilateral meetings in Turkmenbashi, held on the sidelines of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development reported on August 12, according to Biznes Turkmenistan. Zakeri stated that the project will include the construction of one standard-gauge and one broad-gauge line connecting the Sarakhs stations on both sides of the border. He emphasized the significance of expanding rail infrastructure to improve regional connectivity and noted that technical discussions between the two countries’ rail administrations would follow shortly. The Sarakhs crossing is a critical transit hub linking Iran to Central Asia and forms part of the International North-South Transport Corridor, aimed at facilitating trade between Asia and Europe. This initiative aligns with Turkmenistan’s broader strategy to diversify its export routes. Despite possessing the world’s fourth-largest natural gas reserves, the country has long struggled to access stable foreign markets. In October 2024, Ashgabat signed a landmark deal to supply 10 billion cubic meters of gas annually to Iraq, its first major export agreement in nearly two decades. While Turkmenistan maintains two gas pipelines to Iran with a combined capacity of 20 billion cubic meters, exports have been minimal since 2017 due to ongoing payment disputes.