international cargo - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 31

international cargo

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan Conduct First Cargo Shipments Using eTIR System

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have carried out their first international cargo shipments using the eTIR system, marking a step toward the digitalization of transport and customs procedures in Central Asia The move is part of a wider regional push to reduce paperwork at borders and speed up freight movement across Central Asia’s road transport corridors. The International Road Transport Union announced the development on May 12. According to the organization, the first operations represent an important milestone in the region’s transition toward electronic customs data exchange and digital transit management. One shipment involved the delivery of vehicles from Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan, while a second operation transported vehicle parts in the opposite direction. Electronic eTIR guarantees were issued by the national international transport associations of both countries: the Association of the International Road Transport Operators of the Kyrgyz Republic, known as AIRTO KR, and the Association of International Road Carriers of Tajikistan, known as ABBAT. Both operations were processed through the eTIR National Application developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The system allows countries to connect to digital international transit procedures without having to build complex IT infrastructure from scratch. Before the launch of the pilot shipments, specialists from the IRU and UNECE conducted a series of training seminars for customs officials and representatives of the transport sector. The training sessions were held in Osh, Kyzyl-Bel, and Khujand with support from transport associations and customs authorities in both countries. The IRU emphasized that the successful implementation of the first eTIR operations was the result of close cooperation among customs agencies, transport operators, international road transport associations, and United Nations structures. IRU said it plans to continue working with national authorities and regional partners to expand eTIR use across Central Asia. The traditional TIR system is widely used for international customs transit operations, allowing goods to move across borders in sealed cargo compartments under a unified guarantee and customs control mechanism. The digital eTIR platform is considered the next stage in the system’s development. It is expected to simplify information exchange between customs authorities, transport operators, and guarantee associations, while also accelerating border crossing procedures and reducing paperwork.

transport corridor

Kyrgyzstan Tests Alternative Transport Route to Russia That Bypasses Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan and Russia are advancing plans for an alternative transport route that would bypass Kazakhstan. The proposed Southern Transport Corridor would connect the Russian port of Astrakhan across the Caspian Sea to the Turkmenbashi port in Turkmenistan and then continue overland through Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan. The first test cargo shipments along this corridor have already been completed, according to Russian media reports citing Kyrgyzstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar Amangeldiyev. Amangeldiyev said Kyrgyzstan views the development of this southern route via the Caspian Sea as a promising alternative for trade between the two countries. “We’re working in this direction. We have a strategic partnership in this area and a shared vision. We are currently in negotiations,” he told Russia’s TASS news agency on April 3 on the sidelines of the CIS International Economic Forum in Moscow. Discussions on establishing the new transport corridor date back to October 2024, during the visit of then–prime minister of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov to Moscow. For Kyrgyzstan, the Southern Transport Corridor offers a way to reduce dependence on transit through Kazakhstan. At present, most cargo traffic between Russia and Kyrgyzstan passes through the territory of Kazakhstan. Trucks from Kyrgyzstan often face delays of several days at the border, creating significant obstacles for cargo transport, particularly for perishable agricultural goods. The new corridor is expected to help alleviate these bottlenecks and provide an alternative route linking Kyrgyzstan with the European part of Russia. Kazakhstan would continue to serve as the primary transit route for trade with Russia’s Siberian, Ural, and Far Eastern regions.

Freight Industry

Kazakhstan Proposes Creating a Digital Platform Within the EAEU to Coordinate Freight

Kazakhstan has proposed the creation of a unified digital platform for coordinating cargo flows within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov presented the proposal at a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Shymkent. The proposal involves developing an integrated system based on AI that will improve the efficiency of logistics processes across the union. Currently, the EAEU comprises five countries: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Moldova, Uzbekistan, Cuba, and Iran hold observer status. According to Bektenov, the creation of a unified AI-based platform will reduce cargo delivery times and lower business costs. “In order to fully realize the transit and transport potential of the Union’s member states, it is proposed to create an integrated platform for coordinating cargo flows based on artificial intelligence,” he noted. Kazakhstan is paying particular attention to the digitization of control procedures. In particular, it is proposed to fully transition veterinary and phytosanitary controls to an electronic format. This involves moving away from paper documents and implementing data exchange mechanisms both within the EAEU and with third countries. Kazakhstan is a regional leader in terms of readiness for AI implementation. Further initiatives include the creation of an artificial intelligence fund and an international computing hub.

TCA Interviews

How the Container Hub in Aktau Is Changing the Game on the Trans-Caspian Route

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is experiencing rapid growth. Against the backdrop of geopolitical shifts and the restructuring of global supply chains, it is increasingly seen as a reliable alternative to traditional maritime routes. The next major step in its development will be the launch in 2026 of Kazakhstan’s first container hub in the port city of Aktau. The project is expected to accelerate cargo handling, create a full container infrastructure, and strengthen the competitiveness of the route as a whole. But will it be enough to elevate the corridor to the level of the world’s key transport routes? The Times of Central Asia sat down to discuss these important regional developments with Damir Kozhakhmetov, CEO of KTZ Express, the transportation and logistics subsidiary of Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ). TCA: The launch of the container hub at the Port of Aktau is scheduled for 2026. What stage is the project currently at? Are there already forecasts for handling volumes? DK: Construction of the container hub is proceeding according to schedule. The first phase of the project has already been completed: on December 25, 2025, the facility entered pilot industrial operation. The design capacity of the first phase is 140,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year. As part of the project, a rail-track complex approximately three kilometers long has been built, a container yard covering 19,300 square meters has been created, and two modern rail-mounted gantry cranes with a lifting capacity of 41 tons each have been installed. The main loading and transport equipment has also been procured and commissioned. At the same time, supporting infrastructure has been developed, including roads, administrative and auxiliary buildings, engineering and utility networks, lighting systems, and perimeter security. Comprehensive testing of the process equipment is currently underway, and the terminal’s digital control systems are being configured. At the same time, the hub’s IT systems are being integrated with the digital infrastructure of the Port of Aktau to ensure operational transparency and reduce container processing times. Staff training and the refinement of production processes are also continuing during the trial-operation phase. Overall, the facility is steadily moving toward commercial operation, with commissioning work scheduled for completion by the end of March 2026. As for throughput, a phased ramp-up to design capacity is expected in 2026, with utilization increasing gradually. TCA: How will the launch of the container hub affect capacity utilization at Aktau itself? DK: We expect a significant synergistic effect. The project is primarily aimed at attracting additional container traffic, particularly within the TITR framework. This will allow for fuller and more efficient use of the port’s infrastructure. It is important to note that the development of port capacity is already aligned with projected cargo growth. Dredging work is underway in the port basin, while additional berths are being reconstructed and developed. Combined with the modernization of transshipment equipment, this creates the infrastructure reserve needed in advance. The container hub will operate in close cooperation with existing terminals, expanding the port’s logistics capabilities. This will...

Logistics

Middle East Conflict Disrupts Logistics Routes for Deliveries to Kyrgyzstan

Military activity in the Middle East has caused serious disruptions to logistics routes used to deliver goods to Kyrgyzstan. In particular, the transit of cargo through Iran has completely stopped. This was reported to The Times of Central Asia by the Association of International Freight Forwarders of Kyrgyzstan. According to industry representatives, the auto parts market is already experiencing some of the most significant consequences. A substantial share of goods from the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East is delivered to Kyrgyzstan via the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf. The port is considered a key transit hub through which a large volume of international cargo passes. However, due to the escalating situation in the region, maritime transport along this route has effectively been halted. As a result, many goods that have already been paid for and are intended for delivery to Kyrgyzstan remain stuck in ports of departure or transit zones. “A large volume of cargo used to be transported through the port of Bandar Abbas. We used this route for transit to the Emirates, to Dubai and Sharjah. Now we are effectively cut off from maritime transport. All the countries of the Persian Gulf are closed to us, and there are serious problems with air traffic in this region. A lot of cargo normally goes from Sharjah and Dubai to Kyrgyzstan, but these deliveries have now been suspended,” Igor Golubev, deputy chairman of the Association of International Freight Carriers of Kyrgyzstan, told The Times of Central Asia. According to him, equipment, auto parts, perfumes, and other goods are supplied to Kyrgyzstan from the countries of the Persian Gulf. If the conflict continues and logistics chains are not restored, Kyrgyzstan could face shortages of certain types of products. “Ships from all over the world used to arrive at the port of Bandar Abbas. It served as a transshipment hub from which we received a wide range of goods. Now this transit hub is effectively closed,” Golubev said. The disruptions have affected not only imports but also exports. According to the Association of Carriers, the transit of Kyrgyz cargo to Turkey and Europe, which previously passed through Iranian territory, has completely stopped. At present, more than 30 Kyrgyz trucks carrying goods remain in northern Iran, and their drivers are unable to return home. Additional difficulties have emerged due to fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Kyrgyz logistics companies actively use the port of Karachi in Pakistan, and some cargo has traditionally been delivered to Kyrgyzstan through Afghanistan. This route is now also effectively closed. According to the Association of International Freight Carriers, negotiations are currently underway with Chinese partners on the possible use of alternative logistics corridors. The state-owned organization Kyrgyz Export told The Times of Central Asia that it is closely monitoring the situation and remains in constant contact with carriers. Authorities are also holding talks with Iran and other states in the region while considering alternative routes to restore the import and export of Kyrgyz goods.

Import

Over Half a Million Tons of Cargo Blocked from Entering Kyrgyzstan in 2025 Over Phytosanitary Violations

In the first 11 months of 2025, Kyrgyzstan’s Department of Plant Protection, Quarantine, and Chemicalization detected 35 cases of non-compliance with phytosanitary requirements at border checkpoints. As a result, 562.5 tons of agricultural cargo were denied entry and returned to the countries of origin. According to the agency, authorities also blocked the import of more than 70,000 plant seedlings, over 11,000 flowers, and 136 cubic meters of lumber. Diplomatic notes regarding the violations were formally sent to China and the Netherlands. Violating shipments were either returned, destroyed, or decontaminated, the agency said. Officials emphasized that phytosanitary controls are a vital component of the country’s environmental safety strategy. These measures are intended to prevent the entry of dangerous quarantine organisms and to safeguard Kyrgyzstan’s agricultural sector and export capabilities. Border Challenges with Kazakhstan and Russia Despite efforts to maintain phytosanitary integrity, Kyrgyz exporters continue to face challenges at regional borders. A significant portion of Kyrgyz agricultural exports transit through Kazakhstan to reach Russia. However, Russian authorities frequently reject these shipments, citing non-compliance with their own import standards. This has led to growing criticism of Kyrgyz representatives at the Eurasian Economic Commission, with farmers accusing them of failing to effectively advocate for the interests of domestic producers. In response, the Department of Plant Protection and Quarantine has increased outreach to farmers and freight carriers, urging them to meet export quality standards and ensure that accompanying documents are completed correctly. Compounding the issue, cargo delays at the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border remain common, with transport operators sometimes waiting for several weeks. Similar bottlenecks occur periodically at the Kazakhstan-Russia border. Many Kyrgyz businesses view these delays as unjustified, given that Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia are all members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which guarantees the free movement of goods among member states.