Category: Kazakhstan

KTZ temporarily bans agricultural exports to China after border overload

Kazakh Railways (KTZ) has temporarily banned the export of agricultural goods via rail to China. KTZ explains the ban by referring to overloaded border crossings. At the Dostyk and Khorgos border crossings, 180 and 100 covered goods wagons respectively are waiting to be processed. According to KTZ, the Chinese railways do not unload the wagons…

Kazakhstan cancels rail freight price hikes after business dismay

Kazakhstan has cancelled Kazakh Railways’ freight price hikes. Earlier, the planned price increases led to dismay among Kazakh businesses due to worries about their competitiveness. Roman Sklyar, deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, cancelled the increase of so-called price limits for Kazakh Railways (KTZ). The price limits are used to calculate fees for transporting freight on…

Kazakh exporters worried as KTZ plans another fee hike

Kazakh Railways (KTZ) wants to raise its fees for rail freight. The rail operator and infrastructure manager points to its outstanding debt as the culprit for a potential price hike. KTZ earlier received criticism for frequently raising its fees. Kazakh exporters are worried about their competitiveness. KTZ applied to the Kazakh Ministry of National Economy…

Khorgos grain terminal starts operating in test mode

A new grain terminal has been opened in Khorgos on the Kazakh-Chinese border. The terminal is currently operating in test mode. In the future, local authorities plan to increase storage capacity twentyfold, up to one million tonnes. In the special economic zone of Khorgos, the new grain terminal has begun accepting grain wagons. It facilitates…

Russia hoping to use INSTC to evade sanctions, says think tank

According to the US-based think tank The Jamestown Foundation, Russia hopes to use the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as a way to evade Western sanctions. The development of the corridor allows Russia to gain more open access to non-Western markets. Those could provide Russia with much-needed goods for its war economy. The INSTC is […]

Russia, China and Kazakhstan eye new transport hub near Moscow

Russia, China and Kazakhstan want to build a new transport hub near Moscow and develop a direct transport link between Chinese city Xi’an and Moscow. Russian firm Slavtrans, the Chinese company Xi’an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation and Kazakh Railways have signed a memorandum of understanding that envisions these ideas.  In order to further […]

Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan create INSTC joint venture

Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan plan to create a joint venture for the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The plan aims to improve the delivery of transportation services, shorten cargo delivery times and streamline customs services. The INSTC is a transport corridor that connects Russia and Iran along the western and eastern coasts […]

Kazakhstan calls for Kazakh Railways reform after frequent rail fee hikes

The parliament of Kazakhstan wants to reform its national rail operator Kazakh Railways (KTZ). The parliament filed a request to remove infrastructure management from the company’s competencies and to increase procedural and strategic transparency. The request follows years of rail fee hikes that raise concern about the country’s competitiveness. As rail freight increasingly transits Kazakhstan […]