Central Asia

Container throughput between South America and China continues to grow at record rates: over the past two decades, exports from the region have grown from 200,000 TEU to over 1 million TEU, while imports have risen from under 500,000 TEU to over 3 million TEU. Total trade volume has approached 4.5 million TEU, reflecting deepening economic ties, fueled by growing Chinese direct investment and expanding sectoral cooperation.

SGP Container Terminals, part of the Saudi Global Ports group, announced two significant milestones in October 2025. The company handled its 15 millionth TEU since commencing commercial operations in 2015 and also recorded a record volume handled in a single vessel call – 23,947 TEUs on board the container vessel CSCL ARCTIC OCEAN. Another subsidiary, SGP Intermodal (formerly SGP Riyadh), reached the 4 million TEU mark handled since 2022.

Logistics company Uni-Laman Group has partnered with a warehouse complex at the Khorgos dry port, a key hub on the border between China and Kazakhstan. This allows the company to launch a new Middle Corridor transportation system, covering the route China – Khorgos – Azerbaijan – Georgia (with a ferry crossing across the Caspian Sea to Poti/Batumi) – Bulgaria (Burgas port), followed by truck delivery to Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Hungary.

On 19 November, representatives from JadeWeserPort Wilhelmshaven and EUROGATE Intermodal (EGIM) met logistics professionals in Budapest during an industry event held under the title “Wilhelmshaven meets Budapest”. The session gathered stakeholders from Hungary’s freight sector to highlight current rail and maritime connections supporting China–Europe container flows.

During the Kazakh-Estonian Business Forum, attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Estonian President Alar Karis, KTZ Express signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Estonian logistics company AS SilSteve. The document was signed on behalf of the Kazakh side by Zhaksybek K.M., Deputy General Director for Operations.

Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) held a meeting with a delegation from the Republic of Estonia, led by Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis. The parties discussed cooperation in rail transportation and the further development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), which is becoming strategically important for freight transit through Kazakhstan.

At the 6th meeting of the UNESCAP Working Group on Dry Ports, held in Bangkok, a key decision was made for the development of Kazakhstan’s logistics. International experts recognized the infrastructural significance of the Dostyk Trans Terminal and the GLOBAL CITY trade and logistics complex.

Arzybek Kozhoshev, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), held a working meeting in Abu Dhabi with Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports Group, where the parties agreed on a cooperation protocol for 2025–2026. The document provides for the exchange of best practices in transport, infrastructure, and logistics digitalization, as well as a joint exploration of opportunities to establish new logistics hubs in EAEU countries.

Global logistics operator Rhenus Group is increasing its investment in Southeast Asia, strengthening its position on key international corridors. The growth of cargo traffic in the region, driven by the China+1 strategy and growing demand for flexible and sustainable logistics solutions, is making Southeast Asia one of the world’s leading trade hubs. According to IATA, by September 2025, air freight volumes between Europe and Asia grew by 12.4% year-on-year, while trade between China and ASEAN increased to RMB 3.67 trillion, confirming the shift in global cargo flows toward the region.

At a meeting of the Presidium of the Kazakhstan Transport Workers’ Union, Kazlogistics, key performance results for 2025 were reviewed and objectives for the near future were outlined. The heads of relevant working groups presented an up-to-date assessment of the state of the transport and logistics industry and identified issues requiring joint solutions from market participants and government agencies.