Central Asia

Rhenus Group announced the acquisition of its first rail terminal in the Almaty region, strengthening its presence in Kazakhstan’s domestic logistics sector and on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The investment is part of the company’s long-term strategy to develop an integrated and reliable logistics infrastructure in Central Asia and expand its global service portfolio. The terminal is located at the Baiserke station near Almaty and operates under the name QAZContargo Almaty Ltd., providing direct access to national and international rail routes.

Kazakhstan plans to complete the construction of several new railway lines and modernize key sections of the network this year. Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev reported on the progress of the President’s instructions issued at the National Kurultai at a government meeting. He stated that the Kyzylzhar-Moiynty and Darbaza-Maktaaral lines will be commissioned in 2025, and the modernization of the Altynkol-Zhetygen and Zhezkazgan-Sekseul sections will be completed. At the same time, the reconstruction program for railway stations across the country will continue.

The Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan presented a draft Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Container Transportation for 2026–2030 to the professional community and submitted it to industry associations for approval. The document is being developed as a practical tool for developing the container segment, taking into account real market conditions, operational constraints, and investment opportunities for transport and logistics industry participants. The key goal of the plan is to systematically increase the share of containerized transportation, reduce logistics costs, and strengthen Kazakhstan’s position on international transport corridors.

Kazakhstan is developing a large-scale infrastructure project that is expected to significantly enhance the transit potential of the Middle Corridor. Asset Tuyakbayev, Director of the Project Department of JSC NC KAZAKH INVEST, held a working meeting with the management of the Chinese company Guoyou Materials Group, during which the parties discussed the prospects for the construction of the multifunctional Kuryk port complex on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. The project is seen as a key element in the formation of a sustainable multimodal chain along the China-Caspian-Caucasus-Europe route.

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev heard a report from Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of the Board of JSC NC KTZ, on the national railway company’s performance in 2025. During the meeting, it was noted that tariff freight turnover increased by 10% to 289 billion tonne-kilometers, while total freight volume increased by 5.5% to 320 million tonnes. Export freight exceeded 89 million tonnes, while transit freight increased by more than 20% to 33 million tonnes, confirming Kazakhstan’s growing role as a key transit hub.

The world’s largest container port, Shanghai, handled over 55 million TEUs by the end of the year, confirming its status as a global industry leader. Year-over-year container throughput growth was 6.9%, 2 percentage points higher than the market average; according to CTS, the market average growth for the first 11 months was estimated at 5%.

In 2025, freight traffic through the Altynkol-Khorgos railway border crossing between Kazakhstan and China exceeded 16.1 million tons, 9% higher than the target agreed upon within the Organization for Cooperation between Railways. This was reported by the press service of JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, noting the early and confident fulfillment of planned parameters.

JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy is implementing a comprehensive program to modernize and build new railway lines as part of the objectives set by the President of Kazakhstan to strengthen the country’s transit and logistics potential. Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of the Board of KTZ, emphasized that Kazakhstan’s advantageous geographic location in the center of Eurasia allows for the development of sustainable international transport corridors and the country’s transformation into a key logistics hub between East and West. The railway plays a key role in this regard, ensuring the growth of transit, export traffic, and integration into global supply chains.

In 2025, more than 3,000 international freight trains were sent from Zhejiang Province in eastern China to countries in Europe and Central Asia, setting a new all-time high for this route. These routes export a wide range of locally produced goods, including consumer goods, textiles, high-precision instruments, and other high-value-added products.

By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan’s transport sector demonstrated robust growth across all key areas, with the highest growth rates recorded in freight turnover. According to the Bureau of National Statistics, the total volume of freight transported by all modes increased by 7.9% to 1.164 billion tons, while total freight turnover increased by 13.6% to 584.3 billion ton-kilometers compared to 2024.