Kazakhstan has increased its export cargo transportation by rail through Russia, as well as rail transit along the China-Russia route.
According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the country’s railway company, from January to October 2025, rail freight volumes between Kazakhstan and Russia totaled 71.6 million tons, a 5% increase compared to the same period last year, with Kazakh export freights growing by 5% to 43.8 million tons.
In the first ten months of this year, Kazakh coal shipments through Russian ports totaled 9.6 million tons, an increase of 2.5 million tons (+34%) compared to the same period in 2024. The main destinations for Kazakh trains loaded with coal were the Baltic Sea ports, which accounted for 6.2 million tons (+18%), and the Azov and Black Sea ports, which accounted for 3.4 million tons (+83%).
In January-October 2025, Kazakh grain exports by rail through Russia increased fivefold compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 1.9 million tons, including 500,000 tons exported through Russian ports, a 20% increase on-year. The main recipient countries of Kazakh grain were Italy, Belgium, Turkey, and Algeria.
Rail container transportation between Kazakhstan and Russia also showed steady growth. In January-October 2025, 650,000 TEUs were transported, a 13% increase compared to the same period last year.
Kazakhstan has also increased rail transit from China. Over the past six years, freight transit along the China-Russia route via Kazakhstan has increased 15-fold, to 512,000 TEUs, and in the first ten months of this year, the transit grew by a further 9% compared to the same period in 2024.
photo: Kazakhstan Temir Zholy
