Russia and Kazakhstan Making History

FREIGHT COMPOSITION

Petroleum products dominated the freight traffic with 6.2 million tons (+26% compared to January-October 2024), followed by ferrous metals at 5 million tons (+28%), timber products at 2.8 million tons (-4%), and chemicals at 2.4 million tons (+21%). Container shipments reached 328.6 thousand units (+41%).

Russian Railways' press service attributes this volume growth to infrastructure enhancements, border crossing improvements, and streamlined operational coordination among railway authorities, border control, and customs services. Elena Ganshina, Associate Professor of General and Project Management at the Financial University under the Russian Government, notes that the extensive network of crossing points between Russia and Kazakhstan facilitated optimal routing solutions and helped absorb the traffic surge without creating bottlenecks.

Freight trains operate through border stations including Kanisai, Kigash, Ozinki, Kartaly, Orsk-Novy Gorod, Petropavlovsk, Zauralye, Kulunda, and Lokot.

DRIVERS OF SUCCESS

On November 12, Russian Railways and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy signed an agreement to develop interstate connection points along the Russia-Kazakhstan border. The document bears the signatures of Oleg Belozerov, CEO and Chairman of Russian Railways, and Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of KTZ.

MGIMO Professor Yulia Zvorykina anticipates this agreement will sustain the positive transportation growth trajectory.

The record volumes stem from several interconnected factors, notes Igor Smirnov, Director for Freight Transport and Logistics at CEI. Border crossing infrastructure has been substantially reinforced through expanded station capacity, modernized approach sections, and enhanced checkpoint capabilities. Additionally, operational coordination between Russian and Kazakh railways, border control, and customs services has significantly improved. Well-established protocols, reduced bottlenecks, and accelerated train processing have collectively produced measurable efficiency gains.
Alexander Karavaev of the Caspian Institute of Strategic Studies emphasizes that Russian-Kazakh business clearly dominates Kazakhstan's foreign economic landscape, regardless of trade volume fluctuations. "This leadership is quantifiably demonstrated by the more than 17,500 joint companies registered in Kazakhstan—triple the number of ventures involving Chinese (4,950) or Uzbek (5,473) partners," he notes.

VITAL CONNECTION

Kazakhstan continues to serve as a preferred transit corridor for international shipments. Russian Railways reports that transit through Kazakhstan to China via the Dostyk and Altynkol border crossings increased to 3.6 million tons (+40%) during the first ten months, including 247.8 thousand TEUs (+38%). The primary commodities included chemical products at 1 million tons (+26%), paper at 611 thousand tons (+44%), grain at 512 thousand tons (+62%), and fertilizers at 492 thousand tons (a threefold increase).
"Transit corridors through Kazakhstan continue to offer unparalleled stability and logistical advantages, particularly for high-value goods and containerized cargo. The diversification of foreign trade patterns and reorientation of export flows toward Asian markets have established sustained demand for these routes," explained Igor Smirnov.

The September 2025 completion of the second railway track along the strategic Dostyk-Mointy section—a critical segment of the China-bound corridor—has substantially expanded this route's capacity. Elena Ganshina noted that this infrastructure enhancement creates favorable conditions for increasing both container train frequency and overall freight volume along the China-Kazakhstan-Russia corridor.

UNTAPPED POTENTIAL

The Kazakh transit corridor will continue to hold strategic importance for Russian exports in 2026. "Kazakhstan is actively enhancing the North-South International Transport Corridor and China-bound routes. The integration of Russian freight flows into these corridors lays the foundation for continued growth in both transit operations and export shipments," notes Igor Smirnov.
Favorable tariffs and collaborative initiatives will further stimulate growth. Russian Railways has extended several discount programs into 2026 to encourage transit through Kazakhstan. These include a 20% reduction for container shipments via Russian-Kazakh border crossings (within the North-South International Transport Corridor routes through Central Asia) and up to 50% off for select export commodities through Kazakh border points. According to Elena Ganshina, these incentives significantly enhance the appeal of rail transit for shippers.

Concurrently, both nations continue infrastructure investments: constructing additional tracks, expanding station capacity, upgrading the Dostyk and Altynkol crossings, and advancing digital documentation systems. Experts unanimously predict continued freight volume growth, provided the current pace of cooperation and infrastructure modernization persists.

 Sergey Volkov