International transport - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kazakhstan: The Key Link Connecting China and Europe

China is one of Kazakhstan’s key partners, particularly in the development of its transit potential, with Kazakhstan serving as a strategic gateway for goods moving from China to the Eurasian Economic Union, Central Asia, and the European Union. Today, more than 80% of freight transported by rail between China and Europe transits through Kazakhstan. Railway Connections This year marks the 35th anniversary of the connection between the railways of Kazakhstan and China when the Dostyk-Alashankou crossing became the first international transportation route established in the era of Kazakh independence. For many years, it remained the sole railway connection, until in 2012, a second international border crossing, Altynkol-Khorgos, was opened. Today, freight traffic through these two crossings continues to show consistent and significant growth. Last year, rail freight between the two countries exceeded 32 million tons, which is a historic high. In the first four months of 2025 alone, rail freight volume reached 11.4 million tons, a 13.3% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. According to Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the projected volume between the two countries for 2025 has been preliminarily agreed on at more than 33 million tons. To further increase capacity, Kazakhstan is building a second track on the Dostyk-Moyynty railway segment and constructing a bypass line around Almaty station. Both projects are scheduled for completion this year, which will boost throughput and significantly reduce delivery times for goods moving between Asia and Europe. Additionally, Kazakhstan is currently building the Bakhty-Ayagoz line, which will include the opening of a third border crossing, Bakhty-Chuguchak, which is expected to expand rail capacity with China by an additional 25 million tons. Maritime Development Kazakhstan’s maritime infrastructure on the Caspian Sea is a major focus of development and foreign investment. A key initiative currently underway is the creation of a container hub at the port of Aktau, being developed as a joint venture with the Chinese port of Lianyungang. Construction and installation work is actively in progress. According to the project plan, by the end of this year, the hub will feature a specialized cargo loading complex, a container terminal, and new cargo handling equipment. Once completed, the project is expected to increase container processing capacity from 140,000 TEU to 240,000 TEU, significantly enhancing Kazakhstan’s maritime logistics capabilities. Road Transport In addition to rail and sea, road transport is also a key pillar of Kazakhstan-China transportation cooperation. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, 2.8 million tons of cargo were moved by road for export/import purposes in 2024, a 41% increase from the previous year, whilst transit cargo volumes reached 3.6 million tons, marking a 68% year-on-year rise. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, road cargo volumes jumped by 83%, reaching 822,000 tons. A major driver of this growth is the continued development and operation of the Western Europe–Western China highway corridor. Kazakhstan is also considering the opening of two new border checkpoints to strengthen connectivity between the regions of East Kazakhstan and Almaty...

International transport Transport Infrastructure

Trade Along Irtysh River Creates New Opportunities and Regional Challenges for Kazakhstan

The Irtysh is the longest transboundary tributary river in the world. It flows through the territories of Kazakhstan, Russia, and China, which gives it important strategic significance as a connecting link in maintaining its ecological balance, as well as in its potential use for international transit logistics. Together with the Ob River, the Irtysh connects the transport corridor of the New Silk Road with the Northern Sea Route, thereby integrating Eurasian transport corridors into the global transport system. Reserves of River Logistics According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport, the waterway along the river could be integrated into a large-scale multimodal logistics project. Currently, navigation on the Irtysh River within Kazakhstan runs for just over 1,600km — from Lake Zaysan to the border point of Klin with Russia. The navigation season lasts an average of 192 days, from April to November. During this period, river transport carried out a significant volume of shipments, ensuring connectivity between the regions of Eastern Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, and the border areas of Russia. The riverbank infrastructure includes the Pavlodar River Port, which has a handling capacity of up to 650,000 tons per year and a network of 10 permanent berths – Tugyl, Oktyabrsky, Ust-Kamenogorsk, "Irtyshtrans," "Gravelit," and others – that can handle up to 10,000 tons of cargo daily. The river fleet used for cargo transportation consists of about 95 vessels, including barges, tugs, and auxiliary units. Ship repair functions are performed by three specialized enterprises in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Semey, and Pavlodar. However, most of the technical base requires major renovation: equipment and structures are heavily worn, and the fleet of vessels is mostly outdated. The Irtysh basin remains a key cargo-generating region, accounting for more than 90% of the country's river freight. In 2024, the total volume of river transport amounted to 1.5 million tons, including 296,000 tons of export cargo to Russia. To systematically modernize river transport, in January 2025, a roadmap for the comprehensive development of shipping on the Irtysh River was approved. According to Deputy Transport Minister Maksat Kaliakparov, the main measures include the construction of a new river port in Tugyl, the modernization of existing berths, the purchase of modern transport vessels, the opening of the Urlitobe river crossing point on the border with Russia, and the creation of logistics and multimodal hubs. Plans also include the construction of hydraulic engineering structures, riverbed clearing, and dredging works, which will increase the waterway's throughput capacity and create conditions for year-round navigation. All this will undoubtedly require significant infrastructure investments, the amount of which, according to the Ministry of Transport, will be specified based on the results of the design and estimate documentation and negotiations with private and foreign investors. The implementation of these measures opens up opportunities for an even larger project – a multimodal transit corridor between Russia, Kazakhstan, and China, which will involve the movement of ships on the Omsk-Tugyl section with further delivery of cargo by road or rail to China. One of the key elements of the project being...

Caspian Sea International transport Eurasian Transport Network Trans-Caspian International Transport Route Transport Infrastructure

Development of a Maritime Fleet in a Landlocked Country

It may come as a surprise to some, but despite being a landlocked country far from any ocean, Kazakhstan is actively developing its maritime fleet. The country recognizes that to play a significant role in maritime transport across the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan must enhance the competitiveness of its commercial fleet, alongside improving coastal infrastructure and services. This initiative not only generates revenue for Kazakh transport companies and contributes to the national budget but also safeguards the country's foreign trade. Kazakhstan has set an ambitious goal to establish a regional transit hub based on its Caspian Sea ports, Aktau and Kuryk. It is attracting major international players to develop its logistics services and integrate Kazakhstan into the global trade and transport network. However, the development of the national commercial fleet is lagging. The shortage of a strong fleet means Kazakhstan struggles to compete with the maritime industries of other Caspian nations. It is no secret that most maritime transport between the ports of Aktau/Kuryk and Baku is currently handled by the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company, one of the largest maritime transport operators in the region. The company owns more than 50 transport vessels and over 110 specialized ships and plans to implement a large-scale investment program to modernize its fleet by 2029. Meanwhile, according to Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics, 263 maritime vessels are registered in the country. However, more than 70% of these vessels are over 25 years old. The aging fleet and weak presence in the maritime transport market prevent Kazakhstan from increasing its share in global supply chains, meaning most of the profits from freight transport go to foreign carriers. The longstanding principle discussed in Kazakhstan’s transport sector — “Our Cargo – Our Port – Our Fleet”— could enable domestic transport companies to earn up to 30% more through logistics-related revenue. According to World Bank estimates, by 2030, cargo transportation via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is expected to reach 11 million tons. The Concept for the Development of Kazakhstan’s Transport and Logistics Potential until 2030 forecasts that the volume of containerized transit cargo along this corridor from China will grow by at least 40,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) in the next five years. Over the past decade, Kazakhstan’s domestic tanker fleet has significantly reduced its oil transport operations, as most of the country's crude oil is now transported via pipelines. However, a recent drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's (CPC) largest oil pumping station and a subsequent statement from “Transneft” warning that this could lead to a 30% reduction in Kazakhstan’s oil exports highlight the urgent need for an alternative maritime route for oil transport. This would help maintain stable oil production in the country’s fields. Accelerating the modernization and expansion of Kazakhstan’s national fleet will integrate the country into the regional transport and logistics system, reduce dependency on foreign vessels, and protect foreign trade from volatile freight market conditions — especially given ongoing geopolitical uncertainties in the region. A key initiative expected to strengthen Kazakhstan’s...

International transport International trade Trans-Caspian Trade Route

Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania Advance Caspian Sea-Black Sea Transport Corridor

On February 10, representatives from the foreign ministries and transport authorities of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania held a video conference to discuss a draft intergovernmental agreement on the establishment and operation of the Caspian Sea-Black Sea International Transport Route, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry reported. Participants expressed confidence that the quadrilateral agreement, expected to be signed this year, will significantly boost international freight transportation between Central Asia and Europe. They also highlighted the anticipated positive impact on trade relations among the participating countries and emphasized the importance of involving international cargo transportation organizations to enhance connectivity between European and Asian markets. The initiative builds on a joint declaration signed by the foreign ministers of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania in Bucharest in March 2019, which set the foundation for the corridor’s development. The new transport route will link Turkmenistan’s Caspian Sea port of Turkmenbashi with Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanța, passing through the ports of Baku in Azerbaijan and Poti and Batumi in Georgia.

Multimodal Transport Corrdior Trans-Caspian International Transport Route International transport Caspian Sea Infrastructure Development Transport and Logistics

Prospects for the Development of Kazakhstan’s Maritime Trade Gateways

A container hub will be built in the Aktau seaport. The maritime harbor is expected to become a center for cargo consolidation and distribution, facilitating Kazakhstan’s deeper integration into the global trade and transport system. How will this impact port operations, regional development, and the global supply chain through the Caspian Sea? The project in Aktau will primarily allow for the formation of a container park on its territory, serving Kazakhstan, Caspian region countries, and Central Asia. It will provide a full range of services, including container transshipment and warehousing. The hub’s construction marks a new phase in the port’s development, establishing it as a major logistical center. The hub can become not only a component of Kazakhstan’s transportation system, but a key link in the regional and global transport chain. For this project, investment has been secured from Lianyungang Port Group Co. Ltd., which operates one of China’s largest ports, with a corresponding agreement having been signed with the company. Growth Projections and Capacity Expansion According to many industry experts, Kazakhstan needs to actively develop container cargo transport. Currently, the country’s containerization level is quite low, standing at only about 7%. As Abay Turikpenbayev, Chairman of the Board of the Aktau International Sea Commercial Port public company, explained to TCA, oil and containers are ideal cargo for the harbor due to their swift transport, quick unloading, and rapid railcar turnaround. “It’s a different matter when bulk cargo arrives at the port. Bulk materials take longer to unload and congest the port infrastructure, preventing the acceptance and accumulation of a large number of railcars. The use of containers allows for an increased cargo flow,” Turikpenbayev stated. According to Turikpenbayev, unloading bulk cargo takes 2-3 days, and an additional 2-3 days is required for loading. In contrast, container unloading and processing take less than 24 hours. According to World Bank estimates, by 2030, cargo volumes transported via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route through the Caspian Sea will reach 11 million tons. The new container hub is expected to help handle these volumes and attract additional cargo flows, increasing the port’s container transshipment capacity to 140,000 TEUs per year. Addressing the Caspian Sea Water Level Decline A critical issue that deserves attention is the declining water levels in the Caspian Sea. According to the Caspian Sea Hydrometeorological Research Department of RSE Kazhydromet, since 2006, the level of the Caspian Sea has dropped by approximately two meters. This decline has significantly affected navigation in the region. To address this, dredging work is planned in the Aktau port this year. Turikpenbayev stated that around 1.6 million cubic meters of heavy sediment will be removed from the harbor’s waters. “The dredged material will be used to create new territories and extend the port area southward. This will allow the port’s land area to expand from 60 to 100 hectares in the future,” Turikpenbayev explained. In addition to the construction of the container hub, further port expansion plans include building an additional berth for bulk cargo,...

International transport North-South transport corridor railroads

Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia, and Iran to Boost Cargo Transport Along North-South Corridor

Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia, and Iran have reaffirmed their commitment to increasing cargo transportation along the North-South transport corridor. Representatives of national railway companies from the four countries met on January 30 in Almaty to discuss ways to enhance the corridor’s attractiveness and establish favorable end-to-end tariffs for shipments passing through Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan to Iran’s Bandar Abbas port. According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the country’s national railway company, the meeting also addressed cargo transportation across Kazakhstan, particularly through the Bolashak rail station, located on the border between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. In 2024, 1.6 million tons of cargo was transported via this station. The North-South corridor, linking Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, has an annual capacity of 10 million tons of cargo. In July 2024, Kazakhstan hosted its first international meeting on the North-South transit and trade corridor, bringing together delegations from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, the UAE, Iran, Iraq, Oman, and Uzbekistan. During that meeting, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Russia signed a roadmap for the eastern route of the corridor. The plan aims to expand the corridor’s capacity to 15 million tons annually by 2027 and 20 million tons by 2030. By connecting Russia and Belarus to Iran’s Persian Gulf ports, with further access to India, the North-South corridor is expected to enhance trade opportunities and further solidify Kazakhstan’s role as a key transit hub in the region.