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.
Very soon, on February 3-4, the international conference KAZAKH GRAIN & LOGISTIC FORUM will take place in Almaty.
A working meeting was held at JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy between Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of the Board, and Han Chunlin, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China. The parties focused on the further development of transport and logistics cooperation between Kazakhstan and China, with particular attention to increasing rail freight volumes, eliminating bottlenecks at border crossings, and strengthening coordination between the railway administrations of the two countries.
China’s exports grew by 5.9 percent year-on-year in November 2025, with cumulative growth for January-November reaching 5.4 percent, according to Chinese Customs data. Imports increased by 1.9 percent in November, but still showed a 0.6 percent decline for the eleven months. Despite global instability, China’s trade remains resilient, while the structure of export demand continues to shift.
By the end of 2025, the Port of Shanghai’s cargo throughput increased by 3.4 percent compared to 2024, reaching 600 million tonnes. Container throughput also showed strong growth, reaching 55.06 million TEU, a 6.9 percent increase over the previous year, confirming the port’s status as the world’s largest container hub.
By the end of 2025, grain transportation volumes across the Kazakhstan Temir Zholy network exceeded 14.3 million tonnes, a 31% increase compared to 2024 and the highest level in the past ten years. Export shipments reached 11 million tonnes (+33%), while domestic shipments increased by 26% to exceed 3.3 million tonnes. Significant growth was recorded on routes to Central Asian countries—up 30% to 6.3 million tonnes, including a doubling of shipments to Kyrgyzstan, a 12% increase to Tajikistan, and a 32% increase to Uzbekistan.
Japanese engineering corporation Kawasaki Heavy Industries and energy company Japan Suiso Energy have signed a contract to build the world’s largest dedicated liquefied hydrogen carrier. The new tanker will have a capacity of approximately 40,000 cubic meters. Construction will take place at the Sakaide Works shipyard in Kagawa Prefecture, and Japan Suiso Energy will serve as the project operator.
