Multimodal Transport Corrdior - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kazakhstan and China Digitalize Customs Procedures on Middle Corridor

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), Kazakhstan's national railway company, has announced the digitalization of customs declaration procedures for transit cargo along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, at the border between Kazakhstan and China. In collaboration with Global DTC, KTZ Express - a subsidiary of KTZ - has launched the Tez Customs digital platform. This system transitions customs operations to a paperless format, reducing processing time to just 30 minutes after a train's arrival at the border station. The platform enables preliminary preparation of documents, automatic registration, and issuance of transit declarations. These capabilities optimize logistics processes, enhance transparency at all stages of customs clearance, and significantly reduce the time required for customs operations. Since May 2024, Tez Customs has fully automated customs clearance processes for transit cargo along the China–Central Asia route via Kazakhstan, specifically along the Altynkol-Saryagash section. In October 2024, its scope was expanded to include cargo transported along the Middle Corridor. To date, Tez Customs has processed over 54,000 transit declarations on the China to Central Asia route and more than 5,000 declarations on the TITR. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route serves as a critical link between China and Europe, passing through Kazakhstan and the Caucasus. More than 80% of all land cargo transported from China to Europe travels through Kazakhstan, according to Kazakh statistics. During the first nine months of 2024, the volume of cargo transported along the Middle Corridor increased by 23% compared to the entirety of the previous year, reaching 3.4 million tons. Projections suggest that by 2030, this figure will rise to 10 million tons annually. The digitalization of customs procedures via Tez Customs represents a significant advancement in the efficiency and transparency of transit operations on the TITR. This innovation reinforces Kazakhstan’s position as a vital transit hub for trade between China, Central Asia, and Europe, while also supporting the continued growth of cargo volumes along the Middle Corridor.

China Economic Growth Infrastructure Development TITR International transport railroads Multimodal Transport Corrdior Transport

China to Transport Lithium-Ion Batteries Along TITR via Kazakhstan

This month marks a significant milestone in Kazakhstan-China transport cooperation with the test shipment of lithium-ion batteries from China via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). This major trade corridor links China to Europe through Kazakhstan and the Caucasus. The decision was announced following a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev and China’s Transport Minister Liu Wei in Beijing on December 5. Strengthening TITR Cooperation The two ministers agreed on initiatives to further develop the TITR, including the creation of a permanent working group to facilitate the seamless flow of goods. They also highlighted advancements in the digitization of transport operations. Truckers can now receive permit forms within an hour through a newly implemented digital platform, streamlining international road transportation. The TITR is seeing rapidly growing freight traffic. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, road freight volumes with China have more than doubled annually. Before 2023, Kazakh truckers made approximately 50,000 trips per year. In 2024, this figure is projected to reach 230,000 trips. Expanding Multimodal Transport The meeting also explored the potential for developing cargo transportation via transboundary rivers between the two nations. Both ministers noted a surge in rail and road freight volumes, as well as transit transportation through the Middle Corridor (another name for the TITR). From January to October 2024, rail freight between Kazakhstan and China increased by 13%, reaching 26.6 million tons. Road freight volumes soared by 60% in the third quarter alone, amounting to 1.9 million tons. Meanwhile, cargo transportation from China to Europe via the TITR has experienced explosive growth. In 2024, the volume surpassed 27,000 twenty-foot containers, a 25-fold increase compared to the same period in 2023.

China Middle Corridor TITR multimodal transportation Trans-Caspian International Transport Route Multimodal Transport Corrdior

300th Container Train Departs Along Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway company of Kazakhstan, announced on December 2 the departure of the 300th container train of the year from the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Xi’an, China, along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). This milestone highlights the growing strategic importance of the TITR, also known as the Middle Corridor, as a vital transport artery for fast and efficient cargo transportation between China and Europe. Expansion of the Middle Corridor The Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Xi’an, launched on February 28, 2024, has become a key logistics hub for the region, consolidating cargo from across China and streamlining logistics operations. This development has provided a significant boost to the TITR, which saw only 11 container trains traverse the route in 2023. The 300th train, bound for Azerbaijan, was organized by KTZ in collaboration with ADY Express (Azerbaijan) and Xi’an Free Trade Port (China). This partnership underscores the cooperative efforts between countries along the route to enhance connectivity and efficiency. Strengthening Regional Cooperation On November 12, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and China signed an agreement to establish an inter-modal cargo terminal in the Port of Alat in Baku, Azerbaijan. This new facility aims to further facilitate the smooth flow of goods and boost trade along the TITR. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has outlined ambitious goals for the corridor, aiming to increase cargo traffic to 600 container trains per year in both 2025 and 2026. The target rises to 1,000 trains in 2027 and 2,000 by 2029, reflecting the corridor’s growing role in global trade logistics.

Multimodal Transport Corrdior International transport Transport and Logistics China Afghanistan Economic Cooperation

Train Link Connects China and Afghanistan via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

The first freight train from China arrived at Afghanistan’s Hairatan dry port on November 23, following a route through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, according to a report by Afghan TOLOnews. Hairatan, a border town in northern Afghanistan, lies a short distance from the Uzbek city of Termez and serves as a critical transit hub between the two nations. Speaking at a ceremony marking the train’s arrival, Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi noted that the freight journey through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan took 20 days. Azizi also announced plans to use the rail link to transport Afghan goods to China. Beijing has been working to increase its economic footprint in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, focusing on the nation’s rich mineral reserves and infrastructure projects to boost bilateral trade. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, too, are eager to enhance their trade relations with Afghanistan and participate in the country’s railway infrastructure development. In October, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan signed a roadmap to boost bilateral trade to $3 billion and to include Kazakhstan in the construction of two major railway lines in Afghanistan: Turgundi – Herat – Kandahar - Spin Boldak and Mazar-i-Sharif - Harlachi. This milestone train link highlights a growing regional commitment to economic connectivity and trade expansion.

Trans-Caspian Corridor Middle Corridor International transport multimodal transportation railroads Trans-Caspian International Transport Route Multimodal Transport Corrdior TITR

Dredging Project in Kazakhstan’s Kuryk Port Completed

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the country’s national railway company, has announced the early completion of dredging works at the Caspian Sea port of Kuryk. The project was completed by its general contractor, Jan De Nul Kazakhstan LLP, in just four months. The dredging operation involved removing over 990,000 cubic meters of soil from the port’s seabed using the Vesalius, the most powerful dredger in the Caspian Sea. As a result, the water depth in the port’s operational area and approach channel has been increased to 7–8 meters. This enhancement allows for an increased draft of vessels entering the port, enabling them to achieve full loading capacity. The project significantly boosts the port's terminal capacity, further strengthening its role as a vital transit hub on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. This strategic route connects China and Europe via Central Asia and the Caucasus. The Kuryk port currently handles up to 6 million tons of cargo annually, including 4.1 million tons through its railway terminal and 1.9 million tons via its automobile terminal.

China TITR international cargo International transport Transport cooperation multimodal transportation New rail routes Railways Multimodal Transport Corrdior Hungary

Kazakhstan, Hungary, and China Establish Cargo Terminal in Budapest

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ, Kazakhstan’s national railway company), L.A.C. Holding (Hungary), and Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd (China) have signed a memorandum to establish a joint inter-modal cargo terminal in Budapest. The document was signed on November 20 as part of the state visit of Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Hungary. The planned terminal will leverage the strategic location of the Hungarian capital in the heart of Europe and its developed transport network for multimodal transportation across the continent. The terminal will have a capacity of 230,000 TEU annually and will increase the number of container trains between China and Europe, including transit along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). The new terminal is expected to reduce delivery times and transportation costs. KTZ continues to expand its terminal network along key transport corridors to strengthen Kazakhstan's position as a key transit hub in Eurasia. On November 12, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and China signed an agreement to establish an inter-modal cargo terminal in the Port of Alat in Baku, Azerbaijan. Commenting on the signed Memorandum at a press briefing in Budapest, Tokayev said this initiative will strengthen trade and transport ties between the participating countries. “New opportunities are opening up for the development of infrastructure, logistics, and international trade. Eighty-five percent of land transit shipments between Asia and Europe pass through Kazakhstan. In the near future, the volume of cargo transportation along this route will reach 10 million tons,” Tokayev said.