Kazakhstan and China Boost Rail Trade via Middle Corridor Agreement

Kazakhstan and China have signed a renewed strategic agreement to strengthen rail connectivity and increase freight volumes along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. At a ceremony in Beijing, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) and China State Railway Group concluded a new Agreement on Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation, replacing the framework established in 2014. The updated agreement reflects evolving priorities in railway transport and logistics between the two countries. According to KTZ, the agreement aims to reinforce Kazakhstan’s role as a key logistics hub between East and West and expand the Middle Corridor’s capacity as an alternative trade route linking China and Europe. Surging Freight Volumes and Strategic Exports Rail freight between China and Kazakhstan continues to grow rapidly. From January to May 2025, cargo volumes reached 14.2 million tons, an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Grain exports, in particular, surged by 46% to 1.6 million tons, underscoring Kazakhstan’s expanding role not only as a transit state but also as a supplier of strategic commodities such as agricultural products and raw materials. This growth aligns with Kazakhstan’s broader economic goals of trade diversification and regional integration. Zhetysu Terminal: A Key Infrastructure Milestone A critical component of the strengthened transport network is the Zhetysu container terminal in Almaty, inaugurated on June 10. Jointly developed by Kazakhstan and China, the terminal is expected to serve as a central logistics hub for the consolidation and distribution of Chinese cargo transported via rail and road. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the terminal is positioned to become a key platform for transshipment along the TITR, further enhancing its competitiveness as a vital link in East-West trade flows. Strategic Implications for the Region As Kazakhstan accelerates transport infrastructure modernization and strengthens rail cooperation with China, the newly signed agreement is anticipated to deliver long-term benefits for regional connectivity, supply chain resilience, and Eurasian trade corridors. The enhanced focus on the Middle Corridor comes amid global efforts to diversify trade routes and reduce dependence on traditional corridors through Russia, reinforcing the geopolitical and economic significance of Kazakhstan’s transport strategy.

Zhetysu Terminal in Almaty to Welcome First China-Europe Freight Train

Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), has announced that the new Zhetysu container terminal in Almaty will receive its first container train on June 10. The train departed from the joint Kazakh-Chinese cargo terminal in Xi’an, China, on June 1. The Zhetysu terminal is set to become Almaty’s largest container hub for the consolidation and distribution of Chinese goods, handling cargo transported by both rail and road. It will offer comprehensive logistics services, including warehousing, customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery on a "first and last mile" basis. Strategically located at the intersection of major international transport routes, Zhetysu is expected to play a key role in facilitating cargo movement along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), a growing trade corridor connecting China and Europe via Kazakhstan. Strategic Synergy with Xi’an Terminal The terminal will operate in coordination with the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Xi’an, which became operational in February 2024. That facility has an annual handling capacity of 133,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), significantly boosting bilateral trade and transit freight volumes. In related news, KTZ reported that the 100,000th container, measured in TEU, has now departed from Xi’an along the TITR. The train, comprising 50 containers, is carrying electronics, furniture, and consumer goods bound for European markets.