Multimodal Transport Corrdior - The Times Of Central Asia

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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,...

Digital Trade Corridor Tez customs TITR Middle Corridor Digitalization Customs International transport railroads Multimodal Transport Corrdior

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.