Kazakhstan and China's Train Cargo Shipments Surpass 32 Million Tons in 2024, Setting a New High
The Railway and Water Transport Committee of the Kazakh Transport Ministry recently reported a significant increase in cargo transportation by rail between Kazakhstan and China. By the end of 2024, this figure surpassed 32 million tons, marking a notable growth in the region's trade.
One of the key contributors to this growth was the opening of the terminal at the dry port of Xi'an in Kazakhstan in 2024. Over 300 container trains passed through this terminal and the port of Aktau in 2024, a 30-fold increase from the previous year.
Transit shipments through Kazakhstan surged by 19% to 15.3 million tons in 2024, while container transit to Europe from Kazakhstan rose by 43%. These figures indicate a significant increase in the country's role as a transit hub for goods moving between China and Europe.
The main export commodities from Kazakhstan included iron and non-ferrous ore, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and grain. Kazakhstan's exports increased to 13.7 million tons in 2024. Imports to Kazakhstan also grew by 5% in the same year.
The growth in cargo transportation between Kazakhstan and China in 2024 was not limited to rail freight. There was a significant increase in transit shipments and container transit to Europe, underscoring the country's strategic importance as a logistics hub along China-Europe trade corridors.
The expansion of rail cargo transportation between Kazakhstan and China is driven by several key factors. Strategic infrastructure investments, such as the modernization of railways and highways, have boosted connectivity with China and Europe. Kazakhstan has allocated extensive funding, including $9 billion in 2025, to these projects.
Strategic partnerships and agreements, like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), have also played a significant role. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) and China Railways have signed updated strategic cooperation agreements to enhance rail connectivity and freight volumes along the China-Kazakhstan Middle Corridor.
Modernization of key border crossings and terminals, automation of transit declarations, and integrating logistics information systems among Kazakhstan, Russia, and China have increased throughput capacity and reduced delays. The automation of freight trains, for example, has reduced loading times dramatically.
The development of multimodal logistic hubs, such as the Zhetysu container terminal in Almaty, provides critical nodes for consolidating cargo and linking rail with road transport. These hubs help improve handling capacity and streamline trans-Eurasian freight flow.
Rising freight volumes and diversified cargo, technological and operational advancements, and the strategic location of Kazakhstan have reinforced the economic viability and expansion of rail cargo routes. These factors contribute to the rapid growth of rail cargo transportation and the importance of terminals at dry ports like Xi'an, positioning Kazakhstan as a pivotal logistics hub along China-Europe trade corridors.
The significant increase of cargo transportation through the region, including the surge in transit shipments and container transit to Europe, suggests the importance of Kazakhstan as a logistics hub, merging multiple industries such as finance, industry, energy, public-transit, and transportation.
The growth in cargo transportation, marked by the development of multimodal logistic hubs and strategic infrastructure investments, is also attracting attention from key players in the global finance industry.
