The port of Kuryk is actively developing infrastructure, and large-scale dredging work is underway. According to the general director of the port, Serik Akhmetov, the bottom is planned to be deepened by 1.5-2 meters, which will allow reaching a depth of 36.5 meters according to the “Baltic mark”. This will make it possible to increase the port water area to 7-7.5 meters.
Maersk Air Cargo (MAC) has taken delivery of the first of two new Boeing 777Fs, becoming the first Danish airline to own such an aircraft. The handover ceremony took place at Boeing headquarters in Seattle, USA. Maersk ordered two 777Fs in November 2021 as part of its fleet modernization, with the second aircraft to be delivered in the third quarter.
GEODIS, a leading intermodal transport operator, has expanded its rail freight services with the addition of a new fixed-time route. On June 11, a freight rail service between Lodz and Barcelona was launched, becoming the first direct rail connection between the two countries. Customer goods were sent on the first voyage in 44 containers, each of which can transport up to 26 tons. The train arrived in Barcelona in three days, after which delivery to the final recipients is carried out by road. On the same day, the train returns to Poland with imported goods from Spain. The following routes also have a capacity of 44 units, allowing the same number of trucks to be replaced.
Kazakh President Kasim-Jomart Tokayev signed three laws expanding cooperation with China in the transport sector. New laws include the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and the Government of China on the Development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, an agreement on the development of this route for China-Europe container trains and an agreement on international road transport. The documents provide for granting Kazakh trucks permission to enter deep into Chinese territory, and Chinese trucks – deep into Kazakhstan.
Rhenus Port Logistics Rhein-Ruhr has opened a new covered terminal and specialized equipment for loading grain from Ukraine at Terminal 4 of the Port of Duisburg. Previously, it was sent through the port of Odessa, but now the railway route through Ukraine, Poland and Germany is used. Upon arrival in Duisburg, the grain is transferred from containers to river vessels, allowing sensitive cargo to be quickly transported to its next destination by coordinating the arrival of rail and shipping services.
The 15th meeting of the dialogue platform “Kazakhstan-European Union” was held in Astana, at which issues of expanding trade, economic and investment interaction, as well as the joint implementation of projects in the field of transport and logistics were discussed. The European Union remains a key partner of Kazakhstan, providing more than 40% of attracted investments and about 30% of foreign trade.
The Port of Riga has completed several major construction projects aimed at improving its infrastructure, significantly enhancing both military mobility and commercial competitiveness. One of the key developments is the extension of the port’s berth, which now allows the accommodation and faster processing of larger container ships, ro-ro vessels, and military cargo ships. This project, titled “Increasing the dual use capacity of the Port of Riga,” is a collaborative effort between the Freeport of Riga Authority, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Agency (CINEA), and SIA “Baltic Container Terminal” (BCT).
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of CITIC Group Xi Guohua, where they discussed the implementation of joint Kazakh-Chinese infrastructure projects and strengthening cooperation in energy and industry. Currently, with the participation of the CITIC Group, large projects for the reconstruction of roads are being implemented, including the Taldykorgan – Ust-Kamenogorsk and Karaganda – Balkhash highways.
Kazakhstan and Pakistan are discussing prospects for cooperation in the transport and logistics sector. The meeting of the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan Erzhan Kistafin with the Federal Minister of Communications, Privatization and Investment Board of Pakistan Abdul Alim Khan was devoted to discussing the transit opportunities of Pakistan and the main corridors along which cargo transportation from Kazakhstan through the sea ports of Pakistan is carried out.
China has started using the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) to transport trucks. On July 3, the first convoy of 26 trucks was loaded onto the ferry ship “Mercury-1” in the port of Kuryk, Kazakhstan. The ferry belongs to the ASCO maritime transport fleet and has already arrived in Azerbaijan.
