• KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00191 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09168 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00191 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09168 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00191 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09168 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00191 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09168 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00191 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09168 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00191 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09168 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00191 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09168 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01152 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00191 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09168 0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 0%
05 December 2024

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 16

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.

Kazakhstan and China to Increase Cargo Transportation Along Trans-Caspian Route

On September 25, Kazakhstan and China held the first meeting of a joint working group on cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, connecting China and Europe via Central Asia and the Caucasus. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, the members agreed on the projected volumes of cargo transportation from China to Europe and in the opposite direction along the TITR until the end of 2029. Kazakhstan and China will increase the volume of cargo transportation along the TITR to 600 container trains per year in 2025 and 2026. In 2027, there will be 1,000 container trains, and in 2029, there will be 2,000. Given the increase in transit container trains, the Kazakh side has committed to ensuring the appropriate infrastructure in its Caspian ports to ensure timely transportation and prevent delays. At least 50,000 standard containers will be handled (transshipped) at Kazakh ports in 2025. An increase to 85,000 containers per year is expected for 2026-2029. According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport, in 2023, the volume of transit transportation between China and Europe through Kazakhstan amounted to 2.76 million tons, 65% more than in 2022 (1.7 million tons). Kazakhstan is now working to increase the transit capacity of the Aktau and Kuryk seaports. A container hub will be built in the port of Aktau, increasing transportation volume to 300,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) per year. A grain terminal will be launched in Kuryk's port later this year. Dredging of the Kuryk port is underway to ensure sufficient depth for ships to enter the harbor. Dredging works are also planned in the port of Aktau. Altogether, these measures will increase the throughput capacity of Kazakhstan’s ports by 10 million tons of cargo annually, to reach 30 million tons annually.

Kazakhstan to Construct Seven New Offshore Vessels

Kazakhstan plans to expand its maritime fleet by building seven new vessels on the Caspian Sea. These vessels will be three tankers, two ferries, and two container ships. The construction of the vessels is part of a broader strategy to develop Kazakhstan's transportation and logistics infrastructure, which will strengthen its position on the Caspian Sea. Today, Kazakhstan's merchant fleet consists of 17 vessels: 10 tankers, four dry bulk carriers, and three container ships. In December 2023, KazMunayGas and Abu Dhabi Ports Group signed an agreement to establish a ship repair and shipbuilding yard in Kazakhstan. This project will provide the necessary base for the repair and construction of new vessels, which will increase the competitiveness of Kazakhstan's fleet on a global level. In addition, Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its ties with Azerbaijan. Tankers have already been purchased to transport oil from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan for subsequent shipment via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. This cooperation will diversify export routes and ensure the stability of supplies. Turkey has become another significant partner of Kazakhstan in shipbuilding. Under an agreement with Turkish companies, new vessels will be built, providing the country with additional opportunities to develop trade relations in the region. This project will also reduce Kazakhstan's dependence on Russia in shipbuilding, and strengthen its position in the Caspian Sea.

Kazakhstan Deepens Caspian Ports to Boost Middle Corridor Potential

To further increase the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the Kazakh Ministry of Transport has begun dredging the port of Kuryk to provide sufficient depth for ships to enter the harbour. Specialized equipment to deepen the port by approximately 1.5-2 meters, has been supplied by Jan de Nul, a European company contracted to complete dredging works on a turnkey basis. Dredging Kuryk's port will allow for the further expansion of its terminal capacity which currently has provision for  6 million tons of cargo (railway terminal—4 million tons, automobile terminal—2 million tons). The port can also simultaneously accommodate 250 trucks. Similar dredging works will also be carried out in the port of Aktau. The project is part of the comprehensive measures to develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, which will connect China and Europe via Central Asia and the Caucasus. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Transport, the volume of cargo transportation through Kazakhstan along the TITR for the  first seven months this year increased by 62%; amounting to 2.5 million tons, compared to 1.6 million tons in the same period in 2023.

EU-Funded Projects Strengthen Central Asia’s Trade and Economic Ties

On 26 June, Almaty hosted the closing meeting of two regional projects in Central Asia funded by the European Union: the ITC Ready4Trade Central Asia and the OECD Policy Component of the EU Central Asia Invest Programme. As reported by the Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan, both initiatives have done much to support Central Asian countries' efforts to advance trade reforms, enhance competitiveness, foster connectivity and strengthen regional cooperation. The event brought together policymakers and key stakeholders from private and public sectors in Central Asia, as well as representatives of the European Union, the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). "The European Union has long been supporting the governments of Central Asian countries in their business environment and trade and transport connectivity reform efforts together with international partners, including ITC and the OECD,” said Kestutis Jankauskas, Ambassador of the European Union to Kazakhstan. “Going forward, we will endeavour to develop the potential of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor together with our Central Asian partners to make it a competitive, multimodal and sustainable corridor that can bring Central Asia and Europe closer together. We look forward to the new EU-funded Prosperity Programme to be implemented by ITC and the OECD to support the implementation of this goal.” The ITC Ready4Trade Central Asia project has made significant progress in enhancing intra-regional and international trade across five Central Asian countries. In close collaboration with the governments, the project tackled obstacles to cross-border trade by simplifying and digitalising trade procedures, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency terms of cost and time. The project also established national SME Trade Academies, providing tailored on-the-job coaching and enhancing the capacity of SMEs to participate in the global market. The OECD has supported reforms in areas including  private sector development, internationalization, digitalisation, trade and transport connectivity, and resilience to shocks. Zhanel Kushukova, Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, commented: “In recent years, significant work has been done in Central Asian countries to simplify and optimize trade procedures, reduce the time for trade operations and automate customs processes. This has allowed us to almost double the volume of trade turnover over the past five years, to $10 billion. In the medium term, Kazakhstan plans to increase trade turnover with Central Asian countries to $15 billion.” Kazakhstan’s QazTrade agency estimates that the implementation of the recommendations proposed by the above projects and the transition to paperless trade will lead to a 30 percent increase in trade turnover in the medium term.  

Kazakhstan Pushes New Measures to Utilize its Transit Potential

On June 20, Permanent Delegate of Kazakhstan to International Organizations in Paris, Askar Abdrakhmanov, attended the International Transport Forum (ITF) Day at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) headquarters. In his presentation on “Connectivity in Times of Crisis,” Ambassador Abdrakhmanov focused on Kazakhstan’s measures to further develop its transport infrastructure and international freight transportation, and Astana’s efforts to develop transport cooperation with the country’s neighbouring states. Regarding the potential of both old and new routes, Abdrakhmanov highlighted the construction of second tracks on the Dostyk – Moynty railway on the Kazakhstan and China border, a container hub and dredging projects at Aktau and Kuryk seaports, a new Darbaza – Maktaral railway line with further access through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran to the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, and functioning the eastern branches of the North-South corridor. Special attention was paid to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), widely known as the Middle Corridor. He emphasized the importance of the recent joint government venture to establish a single, unified operation of cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor, as well as the launch of the TITR Coordination Platform with the participation of Central Asian states, the South Caucasus, and the European Commission. “The current geopolitical situation has created new economic and logistical challenges for Kazakhstan and other countries in the region, and the answers to them lie in closer cooperation with our neighbours and international partners,” stated the Kazakh diplomat. The International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD is an intergovernmental organization with 69 member countries which serves as a think tank for transport policy and organizes annual summits of transport ministers. Kazakhstan has been an ITF member  since 2017.